Euroa players and supporters will return to Deakin Reserve on the last Sunday of September for the first time since 2005 after the Magpies defeated Mansfield by 24 points in a dramatic Sunday contest.
The Goulburn Valley League preliminary final clash wasn’t short of entertainment, with play suspended for 30 minutes due to lightning.
A freak storm rolled through Shepparton and brought lightning, thunder and a heavy downpour of rain during the first quarter of action.
Play was halted at 3.09pm and Euroa went in with an important 4.3.(27) to 2.0 (12) buffer over the Eagles.
When play resumed at 3.45pm the sounds of thunder could be heard and it was Euroa’s gun Jett Trotter who thundered out of the centre with a booming clearance which resulted in Nathan Stewart (three goals) booting an important major.
The Magpies seemed to own the contest in the wet and it wasn’t until the third quarter where Mansfield began to work the game on its term.
The Eagles couldn’t get reward for effort and Euroa was then able to cause a turnover which resulted in an important goal at the other end.
Down by 21 points at the last break, Mansfield coach Chad Owens called on his charges to run out the game and give it their all, but it was to no avail as Trotter, for the second time in the match, sent a dagger through Mansfield’s hopes with a class set-shot finish inside the opening minutes of the last term.
Euroa was able to grind out the remaining minutes of the match and pencilled in a memorable 10.4 (64) to 5.10 (40) win.
Erish Uthayakumar booted three goals and was a constant presence, while Jayden Gleeson was important down back for the Magpies.
Mansfield was unable to grab the game on its terms, but Ben Christopher (two goals) battled hard, along with on-baller Corey Rich.
Euroa coach Scott Rowan said he was excited to help lead the Magpies through to their first grand final appearance in 17 years.
“First reaction is joy I guess. It’s been a lot of hard work through COVID to be able to get some reward for the past couple of seasons which is really pleasing,” he said.
“Very excited (for next week) I think the whole group is pumped to get that reward that we’ve been playing for and opportunity to win a flag and we can’t wait.
“Hopefully the community gets behind us and we make it a real exciting time for the town.”