On Sunday, the Benalla Reds fell at the final hurdle in their quest for premiership glory, falling by 11 points against Myrtleford in the Wangaratta and District Junior Football League’s under-12 grand final.
The Reds headed to the Wangaratta Showgrounds as heavy underdogs, having been defeated by the Alpine Saints by 55 and 63 points in rounds four and 10, respectively.
As the cliché goes, anything is possible in finals, and from the opening bounce, it was clear the third match-up between the two sides was going to be the most competitive.
Played in perfect conditions, the first quarter produced quality, tough football. Benalla Red struck the first blow, with captain Jack Hart breaking free and slotting the first major of the game, to the delight of the Benalla faithful, who had made the 80km round trip to support their side.
Unfortunately, a free kick in the goal square allowed Myrtleford to tie the game, and a last-gasp major gave it a five-point lead heading into the first break.
The second quarter emphasised the gritty, tough nature of finals football. Only a single goal from Myrtleford was scored as the Saints were kept goalless.
Despite falling slightly behind on the scoreline, many Reds, such as Teddy Sheehan, stood up for their side when it mattered most.
Heading into the shed at half-time 10 points behind, the Reds knew they were within a chance of an upset.
Despite the talent of both Benalla and Myrtleford, both sides scored only one point in the third quarter.
While not impacting the scoreboard, the decision to swap Sam Mount and Tom Snell bolstered the Reds’ defensive stocks, giving them every chance heading into three-quarter-time.
Many fingernails were bitten throughout the last quarter, and just as many heartbeats rose as the contest hung into the balance until the last second.
Despite their best efforts, when Sam Mounts shot for goal after the final siren fell short, so did Benalla's chances of a historic victory as they went down by 11 points.
On a heartbreaking day for Benalla, the best were Jack Hart, Xavier Beriman, Thomas Snell, Archie Evans, Samuel Mount and Sonny Nolen, with a special mention to Angus Roscoe, who rucked against multiple opponents.
Jack Hart was awarded best-on-the-ground honour by the umpires and he capped off a stellar season by being named Benalla Reds’ player of the final series by BDJFL president Damien Cooney.