For die-hard fans of Girgarre Football Netball Club, Sunday’s 98-point victory over Longwood was more than 20 years in the making.
It meant they could proclaim the phrase that had been on the tip of their tongue since 2001.
The Kangaroos are playing finals.
Led by first-year coach — and former Essendon and Brisbane cult hero — Damian Cupido, Girgarre was finally able to make the leap into finals football that had eluded it for more than two decades after winning four of its past five matches.
And of course it had to come down to the final day of the home and away season for the Kangaroos to officially secure their spot, with the win at Longwood having them surpass Merrigum into eighth in what was a dramatic Kyabram District League finale.
A landmark occasion in the recent history of the club, Cupido said it was a thrill to be able to deliver its loyal supporters the success they had long been craving.
“It (the response) has been unbelievable the last couple of days, my phone has been blowing up with good luck messages,” Cupido said.
“Girgarre is a very well supported club, we just haven’t been able to celebrate a hell of a lot over the past two decades.
“So to be able to bring the club back into finals football is something this group should be very proud of. I’m sure our supporters will be out in force to support us over the coming weeks.”
He recalled the scenes in the changerooms on Sunday, as the Girgarre football community came together to revel in the celebrations.
“It certainly was a very joyful atmosphere,” Cupido said.
“We were lucky enough to realise our fate after Saturday’s results, so it was a real clear mindset heading into the game on Sunday knowing what we had to do to make the eight.
“We were very happy on Saturday night knowing a few results went our way and even happier after the game knowing that we are there.”
Signing on as senior coach in September last year, Cupido immediately went to work, with the goal of breaking the club’s finals drought at the forefront of his mind.
Tasked with galvanising a group of players that had not tasted finals success and building a game style that could challenge the top sides, he reflected on what had been an epic 11-month journey.
“The hard work started on November 10 last year, the day we started pre-season,” he said.
“A lot of blood, sweat and tears has gone into the season and this is the reward for everyone that has been involved.
“Nothing gets given to you these days, you need to earn it and our players have earned this opportunity.
“This season has been all about building a foundation and setting the club up for long-term success and you can’t do that without putting in hard work and I think the guys have learnt this year that they have to sacrifice a part of themselves for something greater.”
He said the experience with Girgarre had been among the most rewarding he has had in his football career.
“I was lucky enough to coach a premiership with Rumbalara in my first season and had some great years there before taking a break from coaching,” he said.
“But I’d say this has been one of my most rewarding experiences, because of the situation I was faced with when I first came to Girgarre and knowing the history of the club.
“It certainly hasn’t been easy, we have doubted ourselves, I have doubted myself as a player at times over the journey, but we have also had some ripping highs in what has been a true roller-coaster of a season.”
So as the Kangaroos gear up for an elimination final showdown with Shepparton East, Cupido said he was confident his team was perfectly poised to make some noise this September.
“You are only a chance once you get there, you can’t do much from the lounge room,” he said.
“We have deserved our opportunity no matter how it has come to us, we deserve to be in the finals and we intend on giving it a real shake.
“We aren’t just making up the numbers like a lot of people expect us to do.”