So, when Nathalia turned up at Tatura Park and produced the unthinkable in Sunday’s Northern Country Women’s League grand final, there wasn't a soul in attendance who wasn't touched by a hint of charm.
The brave Purples turned the tables on a pre-written script, toppling an Echuca side which went unbeaten all season in a 6.5 (41) to 1.0 (6) victory which condemned the 2019 runner-up to become the premiership bridesmaid once more.
But while the odds were stacked against Nathalia, coach Simon Quarrell had faith — and so did his players.
“As the season went on, we really grew as a team and began to know what we were capable of,” Quarrell said.
“There was only three points between us the last time we played them, so we mixed up the rotations and it worked for us in the grand final.
“We always had in the back of our minds how dominant they are, and that we couldn’t afford any lapses — so we never took our foot off the gas.”
Though the end result was telling, the nature of the opening quarter was cagey by definition.
With both outfits shaking off the nerves and feeling the other out tentatively, Echuca and Nathalia each had just one major on the board by the first break.
Whether or not it was a matter of Nathalia snapping into action — or Echuca failing to follow suit — the score didn’t stay close for long from there on in.
Realising they were more than a fighting chance, the Purples split the sticks twice in the second stanza.
Then twice again in the third.
All the while, the Murray Bombers, who had become so accustomed to owning that dominating sensation, were watching it all fall apart from the opposite end of the spectrum.
One final goal in the last served as the bow which wrapped Nathalia’s premiership deliverance up ornamentally, and what followed were tears — those of jubilation for the Purples and heartache for Echuca — as the final siren sounded.
“It was magic; the girls were super stoked with the win,” Quarrell said.
“I just didn’t know how to feel, I was basically shaking the whole day.”
Nathalia gun Abby Favaro made sure to bring her shooting boots to Tatura Park, slotting three goals on the day, while Tayla Dempster, Cody Power and Tegan Sutton also got in on the action.
But it was Gracie Reid, Quarrell’s anointed “pocket rocket” who earned best afield honours, accenting a wholehearted effort from the Purples team that dared to dream.
“It was a real even spread across the board if I’m being honest — we had winners all over the field,” Quarrell said.
While waxing lyrical about Sunday’s triumph, Quarrell couldn’t help but reflect on the road his girls had travelled to taste the fruits of their labour.
“I can still remember our first training,” he said with a pained laugh.
“It’s only our third season as a women’s football team, but we’ve come such a long way since then.”
And so, when asked if he could summarise Nathalia’s journey, Quarrell only had two words to say.
“Bloody amazing.”
More local sport
Echuca Bombers and Shepparton Notre play out match of SDJFL round
Not sharp enough; Suns miss mark against Manningham
Mooroopna too good for Shepparton in GVL 17-and-under clash
### t
11°C