The journey to the flag decider has been fascinating for the girls in green. They looked in prime form at the beginning of the season, dominating Mansfield in round one.
Yet, their next game against Mooroopna was a resounding loss where the Cats triumphed by 42 goals.
In round four, facing the side they beat in the 2023 grand final, Echuca was no match against Euroa, falling by 19.
Rounds five and six saw a return to form for the Murray Bombers, collecting wins over Rochester and Mansfield again.
Yet, the reigning champions seemed to be just scraping over the line as they approached the middle of the season, eking out Shepparton Swans by a point in round seven.
A draw with Tatura in round nine pointed to a growing concern that Echuca struggled against the top-four sides and would need to find something deeper if they were to go the distance once more.
And find something they did.
The Murray Bombers went undefeated for the rest of the way through, decimating the competition, claiming satisfying revenge against Euroa and Mooroopna for their previous losses, and silencing the doubters.
Finishing in third position behind the Cats and Pies, there was a growing consensus that the girls in green might have timed their run well, using the first half of the season as a testing ground for new strategies.
Echuca coasted past Seymour in the elimination final, winning by seven points before pipping Mooroopna again in the second semi-final by a pair of goals.
This took the air out of the Cats’ tyres and booked the Murray Bombers girls a date in their second grand final in as many years.
The Cats and Pies were forced to duke it out among themselves to see who would join Echuca at the big dance, with Euroa winning comfortably.
With a 2023 rematch now set in stone, many around the league were left with a sense of deja vu.
Player-coach Belinda Lees said that despite the big occasion, most of her team feels calm heading into the grand final, mainly because they’ve been there before and are doing their best to support the players who haven’t.
“I think for us, we have multiple players who have been a part of a finals campaign before, they feel quite settled; the nerves come and go throughout the week,” she said.
“But for the likes of Holly Chadwick, playing in her first A-grade grand final is a big occasion, so we are trying to nurture her and make sure she is okay.
“We are training well, everyone is fit and ready to go, we are enjoying the lead-up, and there is a nice feeling around the club.”
Lees highlighted the team’s need to perform at the highest level to beat Euroa, but was confident that her side could do it again.
“Euroa will be out for redemption after last year, and I think they are excellent across all positions on the court, so we know we will have to play one of our best games to win, but we are excited by the challenge,” she said.
“You don’t make the grand final not to win it, so I have absolute confidence in the girls, and that is what is special about this group, which is that we always support each other and know everyone is going to deliver.”
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