Family affair: Lloyd brothers enjoying time at Murchison-Toolamba

Such is the closeness of the group down at Murchison Recreation Reserve, for James and Andrew the one season they have spent at the club feels like it’s been home for more than just that.

In fact, the three brothers grew up playing at Shepparton East — the club the boys helped knock out of the KDL grand final race last weekend.

The Lloyds will spearhead the Grasshoppers on Saturday in the decider against Lancaster, with all three key members of the outfit’s premiership chances.

Ahead of the big dance, Andrew said he couldn’t wait to run out alongside his family members.

“Playing footy with my two brothers, who I’ve not been able to play a lot of footy with besides in the backyard, and he (James) always won, is pretty unreal,” Andrew said.

“It’s more than just those two though, our brother-in-law (Jye Borg) plays here and to be honest the club feels like we’re just one big family.”

Andrew’s twin brother Aidan agreed.

“When I came out last year I only knew Jye and that was it,” he said.

“But it was a family as soon as I got there. Everyone is so welcoming and it’s such a welcoming place to be at and it’s enjoyable. Especially now with these two (Andrew and James) coming along.”

Aidan and Andrew’s uncanny resemblance also flows into their football pedigree, with the pair towering over opponents with their height and impressive leap.

Although both can take on most of the ruck work, they have incredible athleticism that sees them often run, bounce, leap and kick goals with ease.

And it’s the latter that older brother James does with impeccable skill.

James, who has the younger boys beaten for height, has kicked 31 goals but a haul of nine sees centre-half forward operator Aidan lead with 37.

After multiple seasons away playing for Leongatha prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, James is now playing with his younger brothers for the first time.

“It makes you emotional; it’s such a big build-up all season long and the three of us haven’t had much success,” he said after last week’s preliminary final win.

“But now we’re one win away.”

Not only does James have life experience on his side, but he also edges the younger Lloyds out in terms of grand final exposure.

The key forward has played in three, highlighted by a 2012 flag for Shepparton, and knows what to expect in the week leading up to the event.

“It’s a big build-up but you’ve just got to keep yourself calm,” he said.

“You can’t get worked up on the scenarios that come into your head, that are going to happen, you just have to find a way to zone out of footy, and once you do that, you’re flying.”

Aidan and Andrew return to the scene of the 2019 heartache, where they were members of Shepparton East’s grand final loss to Lancaster.

And success on Saturday might just be the perfect birthday present for the twins, with the pair celebrating their 21st birthdays this weekend.

“They’re a good side and we know they’re going to come at us. It’s not going to be easy for us,” Aidan said of this week’s grand final opponents.

“(2019) wasn’t meant to be for us but I feel like now we can give it a red-hot crack.”