After a long, arduous preseason, 17 gruelling home-and-away fixtures and the countless hours spent slogging it out on the track midweek on harsh winter nights, Cobram’s fate rested on the result of the final game of the season.
The Tigers’ round 18 match-up at the weekend against Mulwala, the back-to-back reigning premier, simplified their whole season to the outcome of one match – win, and you’re still alive in the quest for the holy grail; lose, and you’re left wondering what might have been.
Unfortunately for Cobram, it was the latter, going down 7.8 (50) to 10.8 (68) to the Lions, a side that has proven itself time and time again at the pointy end of the season.
It wasn’t for a lack of trying, however, with the Tigers fighting their way back into the contest by half time after a slow start, having cut the quarter-time margin of 11 points to just one straight kick as they entered the rooms.
But the aptly named ‘premiership quarter’ proved the difference between the two sides, as Mulwala kicked away to a 17-point advantage by three-quarter time, a margin that Cobram could not overcome.
Led by two-time O’Dwyer medallist Jackson Gash, who booted three goals in a best-on-ground display, the Lions foiled any comeback attempt the Tigers tried to mount in the last quarter to take the contest by 18 points, and in doing so, clinched sixth spot on the ladder and put an end to Cobram’s season.
Tigers co-coach Tyron Baden was understandably dissatisfied with the result, however, there was no shifting of the blame, with the focus squarely on where his side was beaten at the weekend.
“Credit where credit’s due, they played their ground very, very well,” he said.
“We just didn't know how to pick our way through them. We sort of fell down going forward and relied too heavily on our defence again.”
There were some shining lights in the loss, however, with Harry Beasley named Cobram’s best and drawing praise from Baden for his consistency and willingness to go into the contest with full commitment every time.
“He's probably as consistent as they come, he’s always in there giving 100 per cent,” Baden said.
“There wasn’t too many that followed him in there, which was a bit disappointing, but he’s done it all year and will no doubt continue to do that for us going forward.”
The loss condemns Cobram to a second consecutive seventh-place finish on the ladder, just one place removed from finals again; however, there were mitigating circumstances that affected the Tigers’ run.
While all teams are affected by injury, Baden believes his side was disproportionately impacted, but even so, to still be in contention so late in the season came as some sort of comfort for the co-coach.
“We probably didn't have much luck go our way this year with injuries and what not,” Baden said.
“But we certainly had the team to do it on the weekend and we just couldn't get it done.
“I think we've had almost 40 players play in just our seniors (this season), so I'd be very gobsmacked if any other team was that unlucky with injuries throughout the year.
“Credit where credit is due, our boys that stepped up got us in the position to play finals and yeah, we just missed out, unfortunately.”
Many would be licking their wounds after coming so close to earning a September berth but Baden is already thinking about next year.
There have been preliminary discussions among the playing group about the prospect of giving it a shake next season, which has left the coach feeling upbeat.
“I’m pretty optimistic,” Baden said.
“I didn’t come back to Cobram looking not to play finals, that’s for sure.
“I really want to go all the way.”