While it wasn’t the fairytale ending to the Goulburn Valley League season Euroa was hoping for — not one supporter wearing the black and white would have left Shepparton’s Deakin Reserve on Sunday disappointed in the effort of their Magpies.
Coming into the match as rank outsider, nobody gave Euroa a shot.
And for good reason.
The Magpies had not gotten within seven goals in their three meetings with the Murray Bombers this season, with the most recent resulting in a 74-point shellacking at Mansfield a fortnight ago.
But grand finals are a different beast and, on Sunday afternoon, Euroa produced a performance of the ages to fall just 12 points in an epic decider.
Speaking after the game, Euroa coach Scott Rowan was overwhelmed with pride and emotion about the effort his players produced.
“I am super proud of the boys today,” Rowan said.
“I’ve said before we hadn’t played our best footy against Echuca this year, so to get that response on grand final day and produce our best, it shows the character of our group.
“During the week I was so excited to see our boys on grand final day and nobody at the ground today would be disappointed with what they saw from our boys.”
After coughing up the first four goals, there was a sense of ‘here we go again’ as Euroa looked set for another Murray Bomber hiding.
But unlike those previous clashes, the Magpies fought back, snatching back the momentum to go into quarter-time just 10 points down.
From then on the game was a scrap.
Making the most of Echuca’s missed opportunities in front of the sticks, Euroa just hung around, with vital goals at key moments seeing the side 19 points down at the final change.
The Magpies were in the game and remarkably produced a scoring burst for the ages, booting four quick goals to hit the front.
Although the class of the Murray Bombers won out in the end, Rowan said the fight of his side was incredible.
“The mindset for us was just to be thereabouts, in the game at three-quarter-time was our focus,” he said.
“Hitting the front in the last quarter after coughing up the first four goals, the boys were enormous and just didn’t stop coming at them.
“Unfortunately, we coughed a few up at the end, but that’s footy, Echuca are a great side and all credit to them — they are deserving premiers.”
While the end result was a devastating one, it was easy for Rowan to pick out positives as every player donning the black and white gave it their all.
“What impressed me the most was just our attack on the footy,” he said.
“In terms of standouts one that comes to mind is Jack (Hellier), his work through the midfield was enormous, while Ads (Adam Giobbi) was incredible across half-back.
“It was such a great contest, I’m sure there will be some bruised bodies on both teams, and that is what makes footy and grand finals so great.”
In terms of coaching the group in 2022, Rowan said it was one of the most rewarding of his life and he couldn’t wait to be back again next year.
“I love coaching this group so much, over the past two years we’ve built such a close bond,” he said.
“Some of these boys, they are my best friends and I hope we can continue to grow and bring that ultimate success to our loyal supporters back in Euroa.
“I can’t wait to be back next year and hopefully go one better.”