Cobram will get an opportunity to break its 24-year premiership drought next week, after winning its way into the Murray Football League decider with a hard-fought 12-point victory over Mulwala in the second semi-final at Finley Recreation Reserve on Saturday.
In a match featuring the competition’s top two sides, the speed and skill of the Tigers proved too much for the brave Lions, with a five-goal burst on either side of three-quarter time setting up the 11.13 (79) to 10.7 (67) triumph.
Cobram was led by an exciting band of local youngsters, with 22-year-old stand-in skipper Luca Allen and the silky smooth Adam De Cicco showing why the club’s future is so bright with a pair of dominant performances.
Matthew DeMaio was the star up forward, booting three goals to help inspire the Tiger onslaught late in the third term.
Cobram coach John Brunskill said he could not have been more proud of his side’s efforts in what was its first final since 2018.
“It has been a long time coming (to get to a grand final). The last time Cobram won a flag was in 1998 and three quarters of this side wasn’t even born then, so it is really pleasing for both the players and the community,” Brunskill said.
“We were certainly tested early. Mulwala came out ready to play and they put us under some serious pressure, especially in that first quarter.
“But the way the boys came together and just played for each other, it was great to watch and they deserve to be playing in that grand final in a fortnight’s time.”
Spring was certainly in the air at Finley, as the match began in perfect conditions.
It was Mulwala that got the better of the early stages, with its experience around the ball seeing it settle into the game quicker and give its classy forwards a host of opportunities.
Trailing by seven points at the first change, Cobram got its running game going in the second term as the minor premier showed why it had spent the majority of the year atop the ladder to pinch the lead midway through the quarter.
This set up an intriguing period in the shadows of half-time, as Mulwala absorbed the Tigers’ pressure and sneaked a goal late to take a two-point lead into the sheds.
But you could tell momentum was on Cobram’s side, and in the third term it broke the game open with a powerful period of football.
Led by De Cicco, Allen, DeMaio and Timothy Garlick, the Tigers put the Lions to the sword, booting four goals to Mulwala’s one to open up a 16-point break at the final change.
In the early stages of the last quarter it appeared Cobram would blow the Lions out of the water, booting the first three goals to extend its lead beyond five goals.
But to the Lions’ credit, they never gave up, kicking four quick majors to open the door for a famous comeback.
However, it was too little, too late for the Mulwala boys, falling 12 points short to set up a cut-throat preliminary final clash against Moama.
Preaching the concept of being a “family” club, Brunskill said the result was vindication of the club’s decision to commit to its youth.
“Nine-odd years ago we were belted as a footy club, but we had really good thirds and fourths, so we made a pact to stick to our locals and see what happens and that is what’s worked,” he said.
“You would have seen today guys like young Matteo Allen, he stood up, his brother Luca was incredible leading the club at just 22 years of age, Adam (De Cicco) was awesome, too. Our young boys are the heart of our team.
“We brought in one or two players, but most of this team have always been Cobram people. It does feel like we are one big family and that certainly comes out in the way we play.”
On Sunday afternoon, Moama produced arguably the upset of the Murray Football League season, defeating a red-hot Tongala by 10 points at Mulwala’s Lonsdale Oval.
In true David-versus-Goliath style, the Magpies took it right up to the star-studded Blues, keeping pace with them for the first three quarters before producing a last quarter for the ages to complete the fairy-tale as the final score read 12.4 (76) to 9.12 (66).
Moama will continue its finals campaign this week against Mulwala, with the winner set to face Cobram in the grand final.