Finals giant-killers Mulwala and Tongala now stand four quarters away from being recognised as giants themselves as they get set for grand final netball Saturday afternoon in the Murray league.
Deniliquin emerged from regular season play undefeated, seeking to impose itself on finals with a double chance and a point to prove as reigning premier.
However, defeat to the Blues in a qualifying final before crashing out in straight sets to the Lions in a heart-stopping preliminary final encounter opened the field.
Mulwala coach Narelle Donovan was jubilant at the road her side got through to reach this stage, but there is still more to do to take the title at Moama.
“I’m not sure when the last time we beat Deni was (before last week), but they beat us by 20 goals at the start of the year,” Donovan said.
“That just shows the development of our team throughout the season, which is very pleasing.
“Going into this week knowing we topped Deniliquin, I truly believe our girls have got it in them.”
Speaking to The Riverine Herald earlier this week, Tongala coach Grace Hammond acknowledged the challenges of her side’s two previous triumphs over Mulwala this year as the Blues chase their first A-grade premiership since 2009.
“We beat them both times (during the regular season), but both games were very competitive,” Hammond said before Tuesday evening’s training.
“I think our composure on the day and treasuring the ball when we have it is going to be a massive thing for us.
“They’re just as young and fit as us, so it will come down to the final whistle.”
The Blues finished second on the ladder and earned an easier route to the big dance, but ranked fifth in the league for goals conceded (35.3 a game), representing a slightly leakier defence than a 16-2 record and a straightforward finals victory over the previously unbeaten Rams may suggest.
Mulwala was required to take the long way around, having finished fourth on the ladder at 13-5, but conceded 40 fewer home and away goals.
Donovan is full of confidence in the resilience of her squad from a physical standpoint.
“The girls have just been building (their fitness) and they’ll continue to do so,” Donovan said.
“We have a really fit team, so we have no worries about injury, fatigue or anything like that.
“We just have to continue to play our brand, which is contested netball across the whole court.”
There is no bigger stage on which to play a milestone game and the Lions will take extra motivation to perform on the back of Grace Thomson’s imminent 200th appearance for the club, which Donovan says is sure to “give all the girls a lift”.
“It will be a tough, fought-out game,” Donovan said.