Grand final deep-dive: Looking back on the best Picola District Football League deciders

However, after much tossing and turning we have landed on the following three games for the drama, skill and emotion they produced, with each decider epitomising the spirit of finals football.

So although we do not have a match report to give you from what would have been the weekend’s action — sit back, relax and enjoy another trip down memory lane.

1. Last-gasp winner seals famous Jerilderie victory

Kicking a goal on the siren to win a grand final would top the bucket list of all footballers, whether it be in front of 100,000 people at the MCG or a couple of hundred at the local recreation reserve.

For Jerilderie’s Chase Strawhorn (who would go on and form part of Rennie’s incredible 2017 triumph), this dream would become a reality as he converted from a strong mark to hand the Demons a famous victory.

To understand the significance of this event, it is important to go back to the lead-up to this grand final in what was an incredibly tight 2009 season in the north west division.

A home and away season topped by a dominant 14-2 Deniliquin Rovers side, Jerilderie would finish in second position with a record of 13-3 — while fierce rival Berrigan rounded out the top three with a sound 11-5.

All signs pointed to a first-versus-second match-up in the decider, with the Demons flexing their muscles with an 88-point win against the Saints in the qualifying final and an upset 13-point victory in the second semi-final against Denililquin to secure its place in the grand final.

The surprise would come in the preliminary final, as red-hot favourites Rovers fell victim to Berrigan by 35 points — pitting two of the league’s biggest rivals against each other for a shot at glory in the grand final.

As attention turned to Blighty Recreation Reserve, the consensus was “Jerilderie by how many” — following their demolition of the Saints two weeks earlier.

And in the first term it seemed things were going to script, as the Demons took advantage of some wayward kicking to pull 10 points clear at the first change — kicking five majors to Berrigan’s three.

It would be the second quarter where things got interesting, however, as some excellent defensive work from the Saints’ back six had them shut down Jerilderie’s frantic style of play — forcing them to finish the second term goalless while only adding two behinds.

Inaccurate kicking would again be a thorn in Berrigan’s side, however, with a return of 2.4 enough to give it a four-point advantage at the main change with the smell of a monumental upset reverberating around the ground — the Demons would also have to deal with being a player down for the rest of the game with Nicholas Keating sent off for tripping in the shadows of half-time.

The Saints would continue their general play dominance in the third, but would again fall victim to inaccuracy in front of the sticks, with an astounding eight behinds for the quarter the only thing keeping a shell-shocked Jerilderie afloat.

Buoyed by the performance of Jesse Hill around the sticks, Berrigan would add another two majors in the “premiership quarter” to hold a 15-point advantage at the final change.

With a golden premiership opportunity on the verge of slipping through the Demons’ fingers, the favourites roared back to life in the fourth term.

It was if the sides had swapped jumpers in the three-quarter time huddles as the previously sluggish Jerilderie roared to life, bringing its ferocious and attacking style of play to quickly wrestle back control.

In what proved to be one attacking push after the next, the only thing preserving the Saints’ lead would ironically be wayward goal-kicking — with a return of 2.7 for the term right up until the dying stages having Berrigan three points in front.

Then the previously well-held Strawhorn popped up and wrote himself into league folklore, converting the match-winning goal with seconds to spare to give the Demons a famous victory.

Having missed just minutes earlier, after the game Strawhorn said he certainly felt the pressure.

“I was saying to myself ‘I have to kick this and if I only kick one more goal in my career I hope it is this one’,” Strawhorn said.

“It doesn’t get much better than this and honestly I don’t care if I don’t get another kick, this is amazing.”

Final score Jerilderie: 5.2, 5.5, 6.7, 9.14 (68) Berrigan: 3.4, 5.8, 7.16, 8.17 (65)Best-on-ground medallist: Chris Marshall Goals — Jerilderie: J Payne 2, C Lockhart 2, C Strawhorn 2, D Gregory, J Sanderson, A PurcellBerrigan: J Hill 3, B Bathman, A. Fox, B. Way, A. Way, B. LewisBest — Jerilderie: A Purcell, D Gregory, M Tinkler, C Marshall, J Whitty, B PurcellBerrigan: A Way, K Bedford, D Hickey, B Way, C Thornton, J Ware

2. Rennie goes from wooden spooner to premier

When it comes to fairytales in football it is hard to go past the story of Rennie in 2017.

Coming into the season the club was in a state of complete disarray, with mismanagement and an exodus of key personnel resulting in the proud club going through the 2015 and 2016 seasons winless.

And after claiming back-to-back wooden spoons, not much was expected from the Grasshoppers as they began their 2017 campaign — with new captain coach Craig Ednie’s first objective being to snap a losing streak that had stood for more than two years.

Luckily enough for the Rennie faithful, this group of up-and-coming young players would tick that box in the second week of the season — snapping what ended up being a 42-game losing streak with a comprehensive six-goal dismantling of Dookie United.

Seemingly playing with a renewed sense of confidence and freedom, the Grasshoppers would proceed to stun the rest of the league and make their charge up the ladder, with a solid mixture of youth and experience guiding them to a third-placed finish come season’s end.

Sitting behind reigning grand finalists Shepparton East and Tungamah, their September campaign would begin in extraordinary fashion — upsetting the highly-fancied Eagles with a 120-84 route to set up a chance at going straight through to the big dance.

Coming in once again as firm underdogs, a fast start would not be enough to make it two-from-two, as a strong second half fightback had the Bears win their way through to the grand final and setting Rennie up with a rematch with Shepparton East in a preliminary final where it would once again easily account for the second-placed Eagles.

This would bring about the unusual scenario of the previous season’s wooden-spooner facing the reigning grand finalist in the south east division decider, with the top-of-the-table Bears coming into the contest as hot favourites.

However, for Ednie heading into the game he said he had immense belief in his group from the get-go.

“When I came I had a goal of making the finals, but in the back of my mind I wanted to play off in another grand final,” Ednie said.

At 2pm on Saturday, September 16, 2017, he would get that chance as the ball bounced at Katandra Recreation Reserve.

Kicking with the breeze in the first team, the underdog Rennie would capitalise — piling on the first three goals of the game to carry a comfortable 14-point lead into quarter-time.

The Hoppers wouldn’t rest on their laurels in the second term and it was star full-forward Chase Strawhorn who delivered as smart build up play allowed the big man to get loose and kick four quick goals to solidify Rennie’s stranglehold on proceedings.

The Bears would not go away, though, and with the breeze behind their backs managed to go toe-for-toe with their inspired opposition — with three quick goals by half-forward Tom Wilson ensuring the margin would stay at 11 points at the main change.

In what is famously dubbed the premiership quarter, the Grasshoppers would begin to make their move at the start of the second half — utilising the wind to execute their exuberant style of play.

Hindered by the yellow carding of live-wire Drew Haebich, the Bears found themselves unable to register a major in the third term in what was a masterclass from the Rennie back six.

Sitting 31 points up at the final change, the wind still posed a significant threat to the Grasshoppers’ cause as the fourth quarter begun — with the Bears’ decision to swing Adam Dodd forward paying dividends as he kicked three quick majors to bring his side back into the game.

With the margin sitting within a precarious three kicks at the 18-minute mark, the game was once again up for grabs and a rampant Tungamah looked poised to run over the top of its underdog opponents.

It was not to be, however, as some more inspirational play from the back six kept the Bears’ attacking forays at bay to have Rennie 13 points clear at the final siren.

Coming over to the club at the beginning of the 2017 season, midfielder Matt Pendergast would claim best afield honours picking up 36 disposals.

After the game he said the victory was as sweet as they come.

“People thought Craig (Ednie) and I were crazy for coming out here, but the stars aligned and we made it happen.”

Final score Rennie: 3.3, 7.4, 10.7, 11.9 (75) Tungamah: 1.1, 5.5, 5.6, 9.8 (62)Best-on-ground medallist: Matt PendergastGoals — Rennie: C Strawhorn 6, C Ednie 2, J Beams, M Pendergast, D Bigger Tungamah: A Dodd 4, T Wilson 3, A Saunders, J O'BrienBest — Rennie: M Pendergast , S McKee, L Davis, C Strawhorn, C Ednie, D BiggerTungamah: T Wilson, A Dodd, B Hayes, D Clarke, C Oliver, C Powell

3. Perfect Shepparton East ends Tungamah dynasty

The 2016 southeEast division season was as perfect as could be for Shepparton East.

Finishing the season with an undefeated record of 18-0, the Eagles were on a mission to announce themselves as the new powerhouse of the league — following a period of three straight premierships by Tungamah.

However, as the old saying goes, to be a legend you have to beat a legend — making the 2016 decider one of incredible intrigue for football fans across the region.

Falling by three points to Waaia in the preliminary final in 2015, Shepparton East entered the new season with a chip on its shoulder and proceeded to dominate the competition for the entire 18 rounds.

Its form that season is best seen by the two hidings it handed out to reigning premier Tungamah — prevailing by a whopping 100 and 62 points in their respective meetings in rounds two and 16.

Coming into the finals series as firm favourites to take out their fourth Picola District league premiership, the Eagles would meet the Bears for a third time in the second semi-final and proceeded to dominate them once again — booking their place in the 2016 decider with a 45-point victory where they would face Tungamah once again.

Red-hot favourites to take care of the Bears for a fourth time that season and end what had been a stunning dynasty, Mother Nature would play her hand during the week — with persistent torrential rains turning Katamatite Recreation Reserve into a mud pit.

Playing very much into the hands of the underdog Bears, the first quarter would be a traditional scrap as Tungamah managed to make the most of a slight breeze to take an early lead — before the class of the Eagles would come the fore as brothers Cobey and Jeromy Aynesly got the Eagles on the board.

Accurate kicking would have Shepparton East take a two-point lead into the first change, but it was the competitiveness of the Bears that was the story heading into the second term.

The tight contest would continue after quarter-time, as East began to get on top around the ground, but found itself unable to significantly build its margin with a return of 2.5.

The good work of Tungamah would eventually be undone in the shadows of the main break, as ill-discipline from Bears skipper Drew Haebich gifted the Eagles a crucial 100m penalty — which they capitalised on to extend the margin to 11 at half-time.

With skies clearing and the game well and truly up for grabs, the Eagles showed themselves to be a champion side in a brutal third quarter.

Inspired by charismatic forward Daniel Campbell, Shepparton East took the game away from the Bears with a brutal display of football — as the man affectionally known as “Piggy” put through two crucial majors and had the celebrations to match.

Leading by 23 points at the final change, the Eagles remained wary of one final charge from the reigning three-time premier — with its experience on the big stage certainly capable of having it nab a fourth consecutive flag.

Nobody would be stopping the red-hot East, however, as it continued its strangle hold on general play — with a return of seven behinds enough for it to claim a famous 23-point victory.

Playing with the weight of incredible expectations on its shoulders, Shepparton East coach Dwain Vidler said there was a large sense of relief when the final siren went.

“We had to work super hard for it, they are a quality team with some quality players who have been here and done it before, so it was a huge relief to get it done,” Vidler said.

“It is a bloody good feeling, it is why you play sport for those moments, the boys prepared well, went out there and executed what we had spoken about all week.”

Despite being on the losing side, inspirational Tungamah midfielder and playing coach Jeremy O’Brien was recognised as the best player on the ground.

Final score Shepparton East: 4.0, 6.5, 10.7, 10.14 (74) Tungamah: 3.4, 4.6, 6.8, 7.9 (51)Best-on-ground medallist: Jeremy O’Brien Goals — Shepparton East: C. Aynsley 4, D. Campbell 3, P. Neville, J. Aynsley, Z. BetsonTungamah: B Palipuaminni 2, T Hayes, J O'Brien, A Saunders, T Lawrence, P HeenanBest — Shepparton East: D Campbell, D Gillespie, R Pfeiffer, J Perkovic, M Rendina, J Spencer Tungamah: J O’Brien, T Irvine, P Heenan, S Sanderon, J O’Shea, B Palipuaminni