Editing Shepparton (section)

== Sport ==
[[Deakin Reserve]] is the main sports venue in the [[Goulburn Valley]] and is a [[cricket]] and [[Australian Rules Football]] sports oval in Shepparton, [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]], Australia.

[[Deakin Reserve]] hosted the long running [[Deakin Reserve|Shepparton Sports Carnival]] between 1906 and 1967, which featured - athletics, cycling, wood chopping, fireworks, bands and dancing.

This sports venue was originally known as the cricket reserve in its very early years,<ref>{{cite web |title=1887 - Our Cricket Reserve |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/269069817 |publisher=Shepparton Advertiser (Vic. : 1887 - 1953) |access-date=4 January 2025 |page=5 |date=26 August 1887}}</ref> then later known as the Shepparton Recreation Reserve, prior to being officially named the Deakin Reserve in 1947, in honour of former Victorian Water Supply Minister, former Federal politician and Australian Prime Minister, [[Alfred Deakin]]<ref>{{cite web |title=1947 - Deakin Reserve |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/173898934 |publisher=Shepparton Advertiser (Vic. : 1887 - 1953) |access-date=4 January 2025 |page=1 |date=14 October 1947}}</ref> who was largely responsible for implementing the Goulburn Valley Irrigation Scheme.<ref>{{cite web |title=1903 - IRRIGATION IN THE GOULBURN VALLEY |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/237401104 |publisher=The Daily Telegraph (Sydney, NSW : 1883 - 1930) |access-date=9 January 2025 |page=13 |date=18 April 1903}}</ref>

Shepparton is home to the John McEwen Reserve, a sports field which is part of the Greater Shepparton Regional Sports Precinct. The complex contains space for a variety of sports including soccer, Australian Rules, netball and others. It was redeveloped by the state and federal governments and opened in 2017.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Shepparton Sports City (John McEwen Reserve)|url=https://www.austadiums.com/stadiums/stadiums.php?id=483 |website=Austadiums |access-date=2020-05-18}}</ref> It is named after [[John McEwen]], the Prime Minister of Australia from 19 December 1967 to 10 January 1968.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Shepparton Sports City |url=http://greatershepparton.com.au/council/major-projects/shepparton-sports-precinct |website=Greater Shepparton City Council |access-date=2020-05-18}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=John McEwan Reserve |url=https://www.football-chaos.com/2019/01/john-mcewan-reserve.html |website=Football Chaos |date=2019-01-26}}</ref> The ground has a capacity of 3,200 and is the home ground for a number of teams including the [[Goulburn Valley Suns FC|Goulburn Valley Suns]],<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0" /> and has hosted a number of matches in the [[A-League|A]] and [[W-League (Australia)|W]] soccer leagues.

[[Australian Rules Football]] is popular in Shepparton, which fields five clubs. The main league, called the [[Goulburn Valley Football League]] (GVFL), includes 3 teams from the city; the Shepparton Bears, Shepparton Swans and Shepparton United, with Mooroopna also fielding a team. There are also other smaller leagues, such as the [[Murray Football League]], [[Kyabram & District Football League]] and the which have teams from in and around Greater Shepparton (Rumbalara and Shepparton East respectively). There is also a junior league in the schools (SDJFA). The city plays a major role in a team where the [[Australian Football League]] (AFL) frequently scouts for new talents to AFL clubs, which is the [[Murray Bushrangers]].

[[Association football|Soccer]] is also popular in Shepparton with four senior clubs entering teams into competitions run by the [[North Eastern Soccer League]]; Shepparton (formerly Lemnos), Shepparton South and Shepparton United Teams are entered in men's, women's, boys' and girls' divisions. Shepparton is also home to the [[Goulburn Valley Suns FC|Goulburn Valley Suns Football Club]]. The soccer club was established in 2013, and currently competes in the [[National Premier Leagues]].

Basketball is another popular sport in Shepparton. The Shepparton Lady Gators represent the Shepparton and Mooroopna region in women's basketball playing in the [[Big V]] division two competition. The men's team has gone into an extended recess after being one of the most successful country-based basketball teams in Australia, winning the CVIBL title in 1994 and the 2000, 2001 and 2003 Big V Championship ABA titles.{{citation needed|date=April 2022}} In 2011, the men's team returned to the court in the Country basketball league.

Shepparton has a rugby union club known as the Bulls who compete in the [[Rugby Victoria]] Premiership.

Cycling is popular in Shepparton due to the flat terrain and extensive network of routes. The Goulburn Valley Hospice runs the annual Shepparton Fruit Loop Ride for cyclists. There is a [[velodrome]] facility located in the city's north and a world class BMX track as well as an extensive range of bike paths throughout the city and surrounding areas.

Shepparton [[Harness racing|Harness Racing]] Club conducts regular meetings at its racetrack in the city.<ref name="harness">{{Citation |last=Australian Harness Racing |title=Shepparton |url=http://www.harness.org.au/shepparton/shepparton.cfm?fromstate=vic |access-date=11 May 2009}}</ref> The Shepparton Greyhound Racing Club holds regular [[Greyhound racing in Australia|greyhound racing]] meetings at its track on the Goulburn Valley Highway, [[Kialla, Victoria|Kialla]], which opened on 10 December 2005. Previously the racing had been held at the Shepparton Showgrounds from 1973 until 2005.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://historyofgreyhoundracing.com/history-of-shepparton-greyhound-racing-club/|title=History of the Shepparton GRC|publisher=History of Greyhound Racing|access-date=15 March 2021}}</ref><ref name="dogs">{{Citation|last=Greyhound Racing Victoria |title=Shepparton |url=http://shepparton.grv.org.au/index.html |access-date=15 April 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090331093526/http://shepparton.grv.org.au/index.html |archive-date=31 March 2009 }}</ref>

Shepparton formerly had a [[rugby league]] team, known as the Warriors, who competed in the [[NRL Victoria#Murray Cup|Murray Cup]] competition during the 2000s.In 2024,the [[Shepparton Eagles]] will debut in the [[NRLVictoria#Murray Cup|Murray Cup]]

Shepparton is also home to the Goulburn Valley Hockey Association. Hockey, whilst not having as great a following in previous years, still has a strong competition. The Shepparton field was resurfaced in 2015 with works to commence on a second field in the near future.{{citation needed|date=December 2021}} The Goulburn Valley Hockey Association fields men's, women's and junior teams from the Shepparton Strikers, Shepparton Youth Club, Mooroopna, Benalla, Echuca and Euroa. The Hockey Association also features in State Hockey Championships for men and women at both Senior and Masters competitions and also provide teams for the Junior Country Championships.

Golfers play at the course of the Shepparton Golf Club on Golf Drive.<ref name="golf">{{Citation |author=Golf Select |title=Shepparton |url=http://www.golfselect.com.au/armchair/courseView.aspx?course_id=322 |access-date=11 May 2009}}</ref>