Just a fortnight ago, Murchison-Toolamba booked its place in the 2025 Kyabram District League grand final with a goal after the siren against Lancaster.
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Who would’ve thought two weeks later that game may not have been the best finish to a KDL game this season.
Following an opening patch of high-pressure footy, Murchison-Toolamba made its move to draw first blood.
A punt pumped inside by Lachy Seddon trickled over the back of the pack, with Leigh Wellington sliding a toe onto the ball at the line to poke it through ahead of a desperate Lancaster defender.
The tensions between rivals was evident, and it didn’t take long for words to lead to war, as Lancaster’s Noah Sewell goaled from the goal line and shoved his opposite number to the ground in celebration as the battle heated up.
The Hoppers seemed to be storming away by half time, a rapid change of tune to the first quarter proceedings, but Lancaster worked its way down field to find a kick on the siren.
A 50-metre bomb from Riley O’Neill provided a much needed team lifter for Lancaster as the teams hit the sheds with Murchison-Toolamba leading 7.5 (47) to 4.6 (30).
But as the Grasshoppers breezed through the Wombats, the hunger seemed to stall somewhat.
All of a sudden, the game was back to nine points and the Grasshoppers were losing structure.
Then the one man Lancaster had relied on all day stepped up to the plate - enter Serra.
The shifty small soared for a spectacular hang in the goal square and finally the reward for effort was granted for Lancaster.
As the three quarter time siren sounded, the game was all tied up, 9.6 (60) to 8.12 (60).
Future best-on-ground James Lloyd, who had earlier kicked a third to surpass the goalkicking century for the season, converted after marking on the lead to hand the Grasshoppers the lead back.
Later, on the cusp of the arc, tucked away on the boundary line, Lloyd laced a picture-perfect punt through the middle of the big sticks.
It was as Luke Jones chewed off the shot clock and found another open target that coach Brett Foley looked to the timekeeper’s box with seconds to go, the scores reading 13.9 (87) to 12.13 (85).
Murchison-Toolamba was premier of the KDL again, the club’s first back-to-back feat in its history.
A beaming Foley, nearly overawed with emotion, lauded his side’s resilience as Lancaster made its second half charge.
“In the second quarter the boys played really well but I thought in that third quarter, they went back in their shells,” the premiership coach said.
“They really challenged us Lancaster, but gee, they're a good club.
“But the resilience of the boys, I think they ran back to the week before, where we were three goals down at three quarter time and we ran over the top.
“I'm so proud of them, they fought and they fought and we got the win.”