For the Goulburn Valley's AFL exports, it was a weekend of mixed emotions.
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For Echuca's Sam Reid, it brought the chance to realise a dream, with his GWS Giants booking a spot in next weekend's AFL grand final.
For Tallygaroopna's Steele Sidebottom, it brought more pain with his Collingwood side adding a heartbreaking preliminary final loss to last season's grand final misery, joined in the line-up by Euroa's Jamie Elliott.
And for Finley's Tom Hawkins, it brought deep despair, forced to watch from the sidelines as Geelong lost by 19 points to Richmond on Friday night.
Serving a suspension from the semi-final, Hawkins was pictured with his head in his hands at the final siren as his team simply could not match the Tigers blow for blow.
Cobram high-flyer Esava Ratugolea did not impact the game as he would have liked, taking four marks for nine disposals, while also chipping in with eight hit-outs.
But the weekend belonged to Reid, whose GWS side dug in in a major way to pull off a huge upset of Collingwood at the MCG.
While he did not have a huge statistical impact - finishing with eight disposals, six tackles, two score involvements and one inside 50 - it is hard to empirically measure the steadying influence and leadership the gutsy player brings to his side.
It means after a remarkable AFL journey spanning more than 10 years, Reid is headed to his first grand final.
And it has been quite the week for the Echuca man, with wife Elissa giving birth to the couple's baby boy yesterday morning.
While he had been granted spousal permission to miss the birth for the decider, Reid got to have his cake and eat it too, witnessing the production of the yet-to-be-named future Giant.
GWS' win meant a Collingwood loss, with Sidebottom down on his usual lofty standards, with 16 disposals, five tackles and three inside 50s.
Elliott had 13 disposals and kicked 1.1, with six marks and five scoring involvements capping off a solid outing.
And spare a thought for Kyabram's Brett Deledio, whose emotional footballing turmoil will continue this weekend when he is forced to watch his GWS teammates play in the grand final he has so desperately dreamed of being apart of.
Deledio, who will retire at season's end, spoke candidly last week about how hard watching Richmond win a premiership the year after he left was, and will unfortunately be sidelined for the decider due to his troublesome calf.
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