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Mueller wizardry helps Congupna achieve Murray Football League glory

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Congupna's Kyle Mueller played a pivotal role for the Roaders in the MFL grand final. Photo by Aidan Briggs

Hitting the 100-goal mark for a season, kicking the go-ahead goal in a grand final and securing a premiership medallion - three things most footballers can only dream of achieving.

Congupna’s Kyle Mueller did all three on Saturday afternoon.

The Roaders’ star forward was a key part of the club’s maiden Murray Football League premiership and first flag in 31 years.

The gun small forward was up to his usual high-flying and pesty antics during Saturday’s grand final against Finley at Moama Recreation Reserve.

Heading into the match, Mueller was sat on 99 goals after a stellar debut season at Congupna saw him take out the league’s goal-kicking award.

In the second term, Mueller seized the opportunity to run in on goal and boot his 100th of the season.

While normally fans would stream onto the field after the 100-goal milestone, everyone - bar one excited fan in a wizard’s hat who ran out to Mueller before realising he was the only one and sprinted back - remained behind the fences to keep the game moving.

Speaking after the grand final, Mueller said reaching the personal milestone of 100 goals was an added bonus to his main goal: helping secure Congupna a premiership.

“(The milestone) wasn’t a focus point,” Mueller said.

“The bigger picture was obviously trying to get the flag for the club.

“It was nice to get it though.

“(Finley) definitely made me work for it, so credit to them.

“They are a really strong side and a one-point difference in the end probably demonstrates how close they are to us.”

After kicking his 100th of the season, Mueller miskicked his next couple of shots for goal.

In the final few minutes of the match, the gun forward took a mark inside 50 and, from a tight angle, went back and converted a clutch goal to give The Road a 64-58 lead.

Mueller said despite his earlier misses, he backed himself in to kick the goal.

“I actually liked my chances because I had been shanking them, so I knew I had to kick at least one good,” he said.

“There is no point going back thinking you are going to miss it.”

Mueller finished on 101 goals from 20 games for Congupna this season.