Premium Wednesdays | Who made off with the biggest coup of the local football and netball season?

Certain teams across our four district football and netball competitions lifted cups and unfurled premiership pennants for the first time since before many people reading this could read at all.

The season was packed with a bit of everything and now we seek to uncover the most truly outstanding tasks of the season, be they years in the making or just a few glorious minutes.

5. No more tears: Johnston, Johnston, Johnston and Johnston

Entering time-on in the final quarter of a round 17 Goulburn Valley League football encounter between Mooroopna and Rochester, the mood was incredibly ho-hum at the Cattery.

With many onlookers consigned to a valiant defeat, if not one that looked somewhat toothless in a plodding last 20 minutes of football, the Cats needed a spark — and soon.

Did that ever arrive in the nick of time.

Daniel Johnston, fairly well-contained by a Rochester defence that had battled on despite the early loss of Hamish Hooppell to a gruesome finger injury, decided this was his moment, or four to be exact.

Like clockwork, he became the unplayable leading target who sank them from all distances and angles, bringing Mooroopna’s faithful to life with every strike.

In one of the more memorable scenes anywhere in country football, his fourth goal in six minutes of action completed a stunning turnaround from a 21-point deficit to a euphoric three-point after-the-siren victory, sparking fervent celebrations and cementing top four for John Lamont’s side.

4. Tigers take away a total Murray Bomber blitz

Here’s at least some more pleasant reading for the Rochester contingent.

Without question the defining moment of the Tigers’ 2024 resurgence, which caused heads and eyes to turn towards Ash Watson’s side in almost utter disbelief all at once, was what was seen at the time as a gigantic upset in their round five meeting with Echuca.

Simply put, Rochester out-Echuca’d the Murray Bombers with a well-balanced spread of contributors led by three Wil Hamilton majors, putting the two-time defending premiers to the sword courtesy of a 22-point lead at the final change.

A more nervy final term mattered little in the end, the Tigers escaping Victoria Park with the only bragging rights anyone could muster over the green machine as it nonetheless rolled on to a third straight flag in dominant fashion.

It is, perhaps, doable after all, but only Watson’s men appear to know the secret at present.

3. All good at Girgarre with a maiden milestone

There’s a long time coming, but nothing starts a party quite like the first time ever.

It never truly felt like Girgarre had been the story of the year in Kyabram District League A-grade netball, always lurking in the shadows of the summit, but surrendering early headlines to the likes of Violet Town and Lancaster.

The Kangaroos were never close to an also-ran, though, rattling off seven straight wins to fly into finals with all the momentum as minor premiers in search of the first A-grade premiership in club history.

Two previous setbacks against Michelle Hill’s resurgent Lancaster outfit — having been its own standout story after going from 11th in 2023 to a grand final — were far from ideal, but the girls in blue and white powered through a see-sawing and electric decider at Mooroopna.

The 43-40 result understandably brought with it a sea of post-match festivities, all eyes on the Kangaroos as they exited the wilderness to finally sit atop the netballing tree.

2. A black and white double delight

Speaking of historic netballing feats, Euroa had unfinished business as well — 41 years of it, to be precise.

There was no more determined side coming into 2024 than those girls who finished as bridesmaids last September as Echuca did the top-level double in the Goulburn Valley League.

The six months of off-season ahead of this past season would have only supercharged that determination and Ellie Warnock’s Magpies started the year as if treating every home and away fixture like a revenge tour.

Knocking the Murray Bombers over in the regular season was one thing, but the coldest-served dish had to wait until their fateful meeting back on the big stage at Deakin Reserve.

It wasn’t just the A-graders gunning for glory, though, with Euroa’s B-grade contingent saluting for a flag just moments beforehand to set up a potential double.

Olivia Morris and Hollie Reid made the difference having not been around 12 months prior as Euroa took out the honours handily to head home with two premierships and its first A-grade crowning moment since 1983.

1. Hail to the country football chief and his undaunted men

There was one achievement — perhaps two, if you factor in the individual and collective together — that stood clear of all comers, in Kyabram District League.

Don’t let the percentage fool you; when the chips were down, Murchison-Toolamba did not exactly have everything its own way.

As a clear three-horse race began to form in the seniors, the Grasshoppers — aided in large part by fierce forward spearhead James Lloyd — remarkably split the points with both fellow contenders Lancaster and Shepparton East.

Lloyd had his own ambitions, falling just agonisingly short of becoming the first country footballer to notch the ton in the 2024 goal-kicking stakes.

His moment would soon come, though, and he barrelled all the way through to 130 and beyond in becoming the state’s most prolific producer as his side found all the mojo it needed in finals.

Righting the ... not wrongs, but perhaps minor blemishes. Anyway, rampant victories over the Wombats in the semis and the Eagles in a massive grand final result cemented an unbeaten year in green and gold with their main man’s milestone to match.