The best was saved till last at Deakin Reserve on Sunday.
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With 10 lead changes and two ties throughout the Goulburn Murray Junior League under-16s division one decider between Kyabram and Shepparton Swans, it will go down as a junior premiership classic.
Kyabram’s Kade Starling kicked a ripping opener, a banana in the pocket was Nick Watson-esque from the small forward donning a bright blue helmet.
Swans star Lennix Mellington converted for the red and white’s opening goal next, which would be one of four on the day for the Murray Bushrangers talent.
But as Mellington made his case for best afield, so did Kyabram’s Sam Bruhn, who too would kick four goals on the day.
It seemed any time the Swans would control the contest, Bruhn would appear and produce individual brilliance to nab the Bombers a goal against the flow of play.
The lead changed with nearly every score in the second term, but two late goals for Swans Toby Keady and Mellington put the red and white up by 11 at half time, 6.4 (40) to 8.3 (51).
After the break, a third goal to Starling reduced the margin to three points, before Kyabram hit the front through Archie Sheppard.
Shepp Swans made their reply though, with a great mark from Mellington made greater by the tactical awareness to feed the hands to a running Levi Duffy who kicked truly, flexing the double cobra to the crowd and handing the Swans a four-point three-quarter-time lead.
Kyabram coach Paul Newman’s speech for the Bombers to remain composed galvanised the group at the final change of ends.
“It was just ‘20 more minutes, composure, if they kick the first one we keep our heads up’,” Newman said.
“I told them to stick the task and trust all the hard work that we’ve done.”
A Bruhn slips catch inside 50 saw the tall Bomber convert the set shot for his fourth goal and put Kyabram in front.
Then co-captain Max Stockdale seemed to have put the icing on the cake - one of the goals of the day, a drop punt squeezed away in the left pocket sneaked through the middle for a nine-point lead.
But there was still drama yet.
Swans’ Keady goaled with 70 seconds remaining, but by the time the ball returned to the middle, another 30 had been wiped.
However, Kyabram, in its urgency to flood numbers back, gave away a free kick for its player positioning, to which the Swans pumped the Sherrin inside 50.
As the seconds ticked down, two ball-ups were called after desperate tackles.
The Bombers clogged the space. The Swans couldn’t get free. Kyabram held on. 10.9 (69) to 10.5 (65) as the final siren sounded.
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GMJL under-16s division one grand final best-on-ground, Sam Bruhn. Photo by Jazzy JohalImage 2 of 8
Kyabram's Xavier Dodos twists the hips to escape Shepparton Swans' Deegan Johnston. Photo by Jazzy JohalImage 3 of 8
Shepparton Swans’ Lennix Mellington struts in for one of his four grand final goals. Photo by Jazzy JohalImage 4 of 8
Kyabram Bombers' Xavier Dodos aims long. Photo by Jazzy JohalImage 5 of 8
Shepparton Swans' David Samuelu takes the Sherrin in open space. Photo by Jazzy JohalImage 6 of 8
Shepparton Swans' Sebastian Trigila heaves Kyabram Bombers's Max Stockdale towards the turf. Photo by Jazzy JohalImage 7 of 8
Shepparton Swans’ Lennix Mellington darts a handball after weaving through the middle. Photo by Jazzy JohalImage 8 of 8
Kyabram is the Goulburn Murray Junior League under-16s division one premier. Photo by Jazzy JohalAfter 80 minutes of captivating football, it was fitting the game’s hectic nature remained to the last moment.
Bruhn was named best-on-ground by both the media and the umpires, and was lauded by Newman post-game.
“Sam’s a serious talent, he’s got a basketball future as well,” Newman said.
“He played maybe six or seven games, but we well and truly knew he was capable of doing something like this on the big stage.”