The A-grade premier of 2023, Shepparton East, meets the reigning champion Girgarre at Mooroopna Recreation Reserve this Saturday to decide who truly stands as one of the finest teams of the modern era.
But coming in unbeaten from 17 games and with a 17-goal victory in the last meeting between the two clubs, it will be Shepparton East wearing the well-deserved tag of red-hot favourite.
Co-coaches Kate Durling and Erynn Hueston, as well as key on-court contributors Leticia Keady, Sarah Maskell, and Lauren James, stand on the precipice of mirroring their undefeated 2023 campaign.
Durling, however, said her squad isn’t taking it for granted.
“The girls are excited and ready for the challenge,” she said.
“(Girgarre) is going to be a tough opponent and we have trained to try and match their pace.
“They're obviously very quick through the midcourt, so we’ve got to shut down that quick transition that they have.”
The Eagles’ mentor confirmed an unchanged line-up for the decider, much as it has been for the majority of the season in an impressive display of durability.
With a week off secured after their win against the Roos, the Eagles have kept things light in the lead-up alongside their B-grade, C-grade, 17-and-under, and 13-and-under sides, who have also qualified for grand finals.
“We’ve had a couple of light trainings and a couple of practice matches against B-grade, (which) is also in the grand final as well,” Durling said.
“We’ve just been running through our structures, keeping it much the same, to be honest.
“It's probably been three to five years in the making, especially having three senior teams in the grand final.
“I came to the club about five years ago, and Erynn (Hueston) has been there for quite some time.
“I think you've got to build year on year, and I think it's starting to show now the structures that we've put in place and the depth that we're starting to get.”
On the other side of the coin, Girgarre is no stranger to the grand final stage and know a poor start to finals doesn’t mean season over.
The Roos had dropped last year’s semi-final to Lancaster before stunning the Wombats in the grand final, and the trademark Girgarre grit was on show in last week’s preliminary final against Rushworth.
They held off a determined Tigers by three goals, and the key members of that win, Holly Nelson, Sheridan Deledio, and 2024 grand final MVP Jacqui Gahan will loom large against the Eagles.
“Shepparton East has definitely been the team to beat this year, no-one has done that yet,” Girgarre coach Nelson said.
“We know it's going to be a big challenge, but if last year's grand final says anything, it is anyone's game.
“We lost to Lancaster two weeks before the grand final last year by over 10 goals as well and won it so we know it's definitely not out of the picture.
“Shepparton East are a fantastic side, we know we're going to have to play at our absolute best we've played all season to get the win.
“We know we are definitely capable, and we have complete faith in our whole playing group that it can be done, and we're really excited for the challenge ahead.”
The A-grade grand final begins at 2:45pm at Mooroopna Recreation Reserve on Saturday, September 13.
One FM will be broadcasting all Kyabram District League football grand finals on Saturday, live from 10am at Mooroopna Recreation Reserve, before Sunday’s Goulburn Valley League preliminary final between Mansfield and Rochester at Deakin Reserve, live from 2pm.
