For Mitch Kemp, Echuca’s premiership triumph in 2022 would have been pretty bittersweet.
The utility watched on from the sidelines as his beloved Murray Bombers claimed a breakthrough victory to end a 20-year drought, ruled out through an ACL injury he sustained early in the season.
But in 2023, Kemp got his chance, cementing himself as a part of the line-up primed for back-to-back flag bids and, after getting the better of Kyabram in the decider, could now officially call himself an Echuca premiership player.
“Ecstatic, relief as well,” Kemp said of the moment the siren went.
“It’s a pretty nervous build-up heading into a grand final, especially after missing out last year, so it’s a combination of relief and yeah, just ecstatic.”
Despite claiming the 36-point win with a blistering third term that saw them lead by more than 40 points at one stage, Kemp said his side still had to work extremely hard for the victory.
“Oh man it was hot as hell out there, so yeah I’m buggered now,” he said.
“But it was a good game of footy, we came home strong.
“As I said during the week, we’ve got some younger legs, that helps us, but far out, we’re all pretty spent.
“It (the message) was just keep staying to what we know, keep grinding away, keep trusting, and we’ll get it done.”
Having missed out last season, Kemp was able to savour the final minutes of the game and take in the extraordinary feat he and his side had achieved.
“Final siren goes, (the feeling is) so good,” he said.
“It was kind of nice to spend that final five minutes so far ahead and kind of knowing, soak it in, appreciate the fact that you’re in a final, you’re about to win.
“That feeling, I tell you what, it’s pretty special.”