After a two-decade wait, Echuca climbed back to the pinnacle of the Goulburn Valley League with a thrilling and pulsating 12-point grand final win over a brave Euroa.
With the collective weight of both sides’ premiership droughts hanging over Deakin Reserve — a combined 52 years — it would be Echuca’s bottle green and white faithful who tasted the ecstasy and jubilation that arrives with clinching the Hastie Cup.
As darkness descended on the fabled ground and lights beamed down to create shadows, Echuca held off a defiant and gallant Magpies outfit — one that almost pulled off a remarkable come-from-behind victory.
Many predicted this grand final, the first to be held in three years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, was done and dusted.
But why this grand final day in the GV is spoken about as one to experience in a lifetime and why it’s revered by many, is for what transpired next.
When Nathan Stewart slotted his first goal at the 13th minute mark of the last term, which gave Euroa its first lead of the match, you thought the premiership flag was destined to head back to Memorial Oval.
Euroa, which had fought back from a four-goal deficit, was riding the wave of the underdog status and support of its town.
The minor premier looked down and out for the count.
But just as Euroa surged forward again, thanks to herculean effort from star ruck Andrew Smith, Echuca’s reliable defender Ben Reid put in not one, not two, but three consecutive efforts to win the ball.
The Sherrin found its way forward as the crowd roared for someone in green and white to stand up.
Until youngster Jackson Stewart, with his mullet flying in his wake, kicked a memorable running goal to put his side back in front less than a minute after it coughed it up.
You knew there and then that these Murray Bombers, who finished runner-up in 2019, wouldn’t give this opportunity up again.
AFL Victoria Country medallist Sam Willoughby was at the coalface, captain consistent Kane Morris booted his second and Cooper Barber followed it up with his second to ensure the cup was off to the Murray River.
And at one stage early in the contest it never looked like the 2022 decider would boil down to the last five minutes of the game.
Echuca came out firing and booted four goals to nothing inside 15 minutes of play, which would have had most bookies running for cover.
Wilf Cox Medal winner Ruory Kirkby and forward gun Angus Byrne both had two goals to their name and Echuca had raced away to a four-goal buffer.
It was reminiscent of the AFL decider less than 24 hours prior and the game dead and buried.
But there was a heartbeat.
It came when Euroa’s Jack McKernan and Will McIntosh both hit the scoreboard to bring their side within 10 points at the first break.
Kirkby, and not for the last time in the match, came through with a superb strong contested mark and goal.
Moments later, there was a slight millisecond where it looked like a Euroa turnover, but save for some Jack Hellier brilliance, Euroa would score thanks to highlight reel Jett Trotter.
Adam Giobbi was rock solid in defence during Echuca’s forward-half ownership and his inclusion in this game from injury was pivotal.
Both sides wasted crucial opportunities on goal, but Barber slotted his first major of the day as the game entered half-time with Echuca boasting a 20-point lead.
The Murray Bombers may have held all of the play, but the tide was turning.
It felt like Euroa needed the first major of the second half if it was to mount a serious charge.
Euroa fans hoped that their Magpies could respond and their prayers were answered by Andrew Smith.
The star ruckman was the spark that ignited Euroa’s second half charge.
He flew high and grabbed a pack mark at the city end of the ground and it resulted in a goal.
Smith won the next centre clearance that ended in Harrison Jarvie working the ball through the big sticks.
We had a game on our hands here.
Of course, it was the Wilf Cox medallist Kirkby who would take a one-handed grab in the goal square to boot his fourth major of the match.
Euroa forward Erish Uthayakumar’s day came to an end in the third after he came off second best from a tap and injured his shoulder.
But fellow tall Tristan Davies rose to the occasion and slotted a dribble goal that came from nowhere.
Morris replied straight away with his first major and Echuca led by 19 points at the last change.
Euroa coach Scott Rowan said to his playing group at the break that the aim was to be in the contest at three-quarter time.
The belief was well and truly there amongst the playing group as Euroa came out with a rollicking burst of goals.
Davies and Trotter both booted their second majors within minutes and Smith’s brave pack mark had the crowd up off their chairs and on their feet.
Giobbi, who starred in defence all game, found himself with a shot on goal from 50m out and when the ball sailed through the noise at Deakin Reserve was deafening.
And when Stewart goaled moments later it felt like the game was snatched from Echuca’s hands.
However, this script had one last page to be written and it was fulfilled by Stewart, Morris and Barber heroics.