‘I’m pretty speechless’: Congupna goes home with silverware following incredible reserves grand final

Tom Phillips, who will struggle to buy a drink for a week, will go down in Congupna footy folklore for his heroics in the final minute of the contest at Moama Recreation Reserve.

With less than 60 seconds on the clock and down by six points ― and with his side surging for a goal ― Phillips found space inside forward 50 and marked.

Phillips calmly nailed the set shot kick to draw Congupna level at 50 points apiece with less than 30 seconds left.

The ball returned to the centre, but a ruck infringement against The Road gave Mulwala an opportunity to send the ball deep inside its attacking 50, but the siren sounded before another score could be added.

It was time for another 10 minutes of absorbing, pulsating and tense footy.

Congupna, despite trailing for the previous four quarters, had all the momentum and a rushed behind gave the Roaders the early advantage.

With a raucous crowd cheering it on and a truckload of belief behind it, Congupna kept pushing and a chaos ball inside 50 found the bread basket of key forward Jake Myles.

The ex-SANFL talent, who had missed a chance late in the fourth term, went back and split the middle for his fifth of the game and to give Congupna the all important buffer.

Mulwala struggled to find a reply and once the clock reached the final 30 seconds of the second half of extra-time it was time for the Roaders to soak up the moment of their historic 8.9 (57) to 8.2 (50) triumph.

Congupna coach Ash Philipps, who sat out through injury, struggled to find the words to describe the feeling post-match.

“It’s beyond happiness. I’m pretty speechless,” Philipps said.

Philipps said he never once lost faith in his outfit.

His message before the 10 minutes of extra time kicked off was a simple one.

“Our mantra all year was our best is good enough,” Philipps said.

“The way we’ve played our footy all year has gotten us to this point and it’s good enough and if we do it for another 10 minutes, we’re going to be at least one point better than them and as it turned out we were seven points (better).

Sam Muggleton wore his heart on his sleeve and was instrumental across half-back, so good was his performance that he claimed best-on-ground honours.

Adam Brassil, Elijah Kilmartin and ruck Brodie Poole were standouts, while captain Mitch Beck led from the front with an inspiring day out.

Philipps was an unusual omission from the squad that won the preliminary final last week, with a shoulder injury forcing him to make a call on his spot.

However, that wasn’t even the hardest call to make this week.

“It was a hard decision, but it was an easy one at the same time (of dropping myself),” Philipps said.

“I knew I couldn’t play. I hurt it back in the final round against Tongala and then reinjured it last week ... I just knew it wouldn’t be able to take the physicalness of the game.

“Premiership coach isn’t too bad, that’s the silver lining.

“Luke Bartels also missed out. He’s only missed a couple of games all year and that was tough ― it was a hard conversation. It hurts to make those calls, but he took it as well as anyone could have.”