They say history never repeats, but it often rhymes.
For Murchison-Toolamba, the hope is that this year’s poem ends with a different cadence than the 2022 ballad, which ended in tragedy.
Like the grand final two years prior, the Hoppers head into Saturday’s Kyabram District League decider as a firm favourite — but as history demonstrates, the frontrunner doesn’t always cross the line in first.
Torrential rain and sloppy conditions favoured Lancaster on that day in 2022.
But with fine weather forecast, this weekend’s duel will be an entirely different spectacle.
Looking back on a comprehensive six-goal win over Lancaster in last month’s semi-final, Hoppers coach Brett Foley said a duplicate effort against the Eagles on Saturday would go a long way towards decorating the premiership cup with green and yellow ribbons.
“It was a four-quarter effort; all year we probably didn’t have a four-quarter game,” he said.
“We thought we let ourselves down against Lancaster and Shepp East when we had the draws, (we) let them back into the game.
“But we’ll go in nice and confident and we know that if we give the same effort, the same four-quarter performance like against Lanky, we’re a big shot, we’re a big chance of winning one after an 11-year gap from the last premiership.”
Foley’s case is a curious one, having worn both Eagles’ and Hoppers’ hats during his football career.
He won a flag with Shepparton East in 2010 and coached the club’s thirds before finding himself on Murchison-Toolamba’s doorstep at the end of 2022.
Foley led the Hoppers deep into finals in his inaugural season at the helm but hit a brick wall in the semi-final.
There are no guesses for who beat them, either.
Knowing the inner workings of the Shepparton East beast, Foley said his charges would have to be at their best against a side that is no stranger to the pressure cooker of finals footy.
“They’ve got some really good players; Tom McCluskey is a really good ruckman and player, Matt Rendina (has) been around for a long time, Jake Sutherland is kicking some goals up the other end,” he said.
“Jamie Spencer, Ryan Pfieffer at centre half forward, knowing all those guys and playing with a few of them, they’re dangerous.
“They’ve played in some big games of footy in their time as well, so they’ll be very dangerous.
“I’ve been in the four walls of Shepp East; they win grand finals, they play well in big games, so we’ll be very wary that we’re going to have to play well to win.”
Looking back at the shortcomings of years gone by, it’s clear to see why the Hoppers have excelled in 2024.
Savvy recruiting in the form of ex-Mooroopna duo Ryan and Lachie Devine has bolstered the ruck and back stocks while pinching onballer Jai Utiger from East has completed the Murchison-Toolamba puzzle.
James Lloyd’s 133 goals haven’t hurt either.
So with a fully fit and healthy list at his disposal, Foley signed off with a slick line assessing the scale of Saturday’s match.
“We’re pretty much full strength, the week off has helped us and freshened the guys up,” he said.
“It’s the same old stuff — don’t change anything, a bit of routine.
“But it doesn’t matter what you do through the year; what happens on Saturday is whether you have a successful year or not.”