It wasn’t to be for Echuca in 2022.
Nathalia has won back-to-back Northern Country Women’s League premierships after dealing Echuca its first defeat of the season in the senior women’s grand final on Sunday.
The Purples trumped the undefeated Murray Bombers by nine points in an absolute thriller at John Riordan Oval, saluting back-to-back premierships 3.8 (26) to 2.5 (17) in shades of last season’s deciding game.
Defeat brings Echuca’s losing streak in the final game of the season to three after losses in 2019 and 2021.
Although Murray Bombers coach Damian Dalziel admitted it was “deflating” to lose the match, he said he was proud of his troops.
“It’s disappointing, especially three grand final losses in a row, which probably hurts the most,” Dalziel said.
“You can’t change it. We go through the year and it could be a thing where we do all our best stuff leading into the grand final.
“We always aim high and that’s what we’ve always been about. We always set our standards and we always want to be the best side going around, but also enjoy our footy.
“This year we did both until this day. We enjoyed the season, we had a laugh all the way.”
In a sodden day at Princess Park, it was a thriller from start to finish.
Rain pelted down in the first term, and while Echuca had the run of opportunities early, it found it difficult to convert with four behinds for the quarter.
Nathalia’s Kiara Cooper got her side on the board with the first goal of the game, and the Purples took a two-point lead in to the first break.
Abby Favaro extended that lead to 11 with the only goal of the second quarter, as the Murray Bombers went through the term scoreless.
As good sides do, however, the minor premier wasn’t prepared to lay down quietly.
Eimer Draper converted Echuca’s first of the grand final, and not long after Paige Baksh locked up the game at 2.5 (17) apiece at the final break.
With tensions at an all-time high, the Purples again kept the Murray Bombers scoreless and, despite copping several heavy knocks throughout the game, Favaro kicked the sealing goal late in the game.
Favaro secured best-on-ground honours in Nathalia’s second NCWL flag, supported by Reni Hicks, Cooper and Aimee Sidebottom in defence.
But the Murray Bombers’ warriors fought to the end, with Jacquie James everywhere for Echuca through the middle of the ground.
Remy Day, Jayda Richardson, Jodie Lake and Baksh also worked tirelessly in the decider, but Echuca will be forced to wait another year for premiership glory.
“It was going to be a war of attrition — whoever hits hardest and who takes the marks, capitalise,” Dalziel said.
Dalziel paid tribute to his “30 new sisters” and the club post-game as Echuca’s squad attempted to come to terms with the result.
As many as a third of the squad that made it to the final game were new to the game before this season.
“Everything’s been fantastic,” Dalziel said.
“You get seven or eight girls who never played football. To be able to develop them and see them play … it’s fantastic.
“The development of all the girls has gone above and beyond. They’re doing other sports and sacrificing three days a week to come down and play.
“That’s all I can ask for. As long as the players are enjoying it and having a great time, then I’ve done my job.”
In the youth women’s grand final, Shepparton Swans were the other NCWL season victors, overcoming Moama by 27 points to take out an emphatic flag win.
An extended match report into the Magpies’ maiden youth women’s grand final will be available in Wednesday’s edition of the Riverine Herald.