There was hardly a cloud in the sky at Mooroopna Recreation Reserve, yet a perfect storm was brewing.

It’s taken 24 months for Murchison-Toolamba to lose a game of football in the Kyabram District Football League reserves competition.

In those two years, the Grasshoppers have boasted a percentage greater than 1000 twice.

Its grand final opponent on Saturday has never come close to defeating the green and gold.

Yet, Stanhope found a way on the final day of the season.

Brute physicality appeared to be the key for the Lions, with monster hits and clashes, errant fists in spoils and crunching tackles early setting the tone.

There was many a moment where tensions could have boiled over, but both clubs held their temper for the most part, with an elusive premiership cup the focus.

In the first term the key talls made a real impact for both sides - Thomas Rennie nailed a set shot to hand a slim lead to the Lions before Lochlan O’Brien and Dylan Baker goaled for the Grasshoppers.

The second quarter was much the same, with contested possessions on the deck dictating play and impacting the scoring of the game, with Stanhope holding a slender one-point advantage at the main break, 4.4 (28) to 4.5 (29).

It felt as though Murchison-Toolamba was strolling through at a leisurely pace in the first half though, and as the Grasshoppers hit the scoreboard first in the third, it seemed that finally the undefeated side would rip the sense of false hope away from the Lions’ hearts.

But Stanhope’s key talls again held their nerve up forward and delivered critical goals, including a major from Jake Rennie after the three quarter time siren from 55 metres out to take the lead.

The contest became a real arm wrestle in the last as the Lions sucked the outside run from the game and forced stoppage after stoppage and kicks down the line.

But all of a sudden, the Grasshoppers surged.

It was a heart in the mouth final minute for all of Stanhope’s faithful, as Luke Cecchin snagged a last gasp effort with 22 seconds to play before the Grasshoppers won the clearance and delivered inside 50, only for a desperate tackle to save the day in the dying moments.

Murchison-Toolamba’s final do-or-die minute showed what they have been capable all season long but on the biggest day of the year, a full four-quarter effort is required, and that was the difference between the underdogs and heavy favourites on Saturday as Stanhope clung to a 7.8 (50) to 6.9 (45) win.

An elated Stanhope coach Shane Baker said despite the odds stacked against his side, there was an unbreakable confidence in the tough Lions pack.

“Oh 100 per cent we had belief,” Baker said.

“We obviously knew they would be pretty slow in the last after they’ve had a heavy six or seven weeks, we knew if we were in there at the half we’d have a chance.

“We backed ourselves to get all the way there, so we weren’t focused on their great players, we just focused on our game and play our way, and that’s what happened.”

Hard-nosed midfielder Brad Canny was rewarded best-on-ground for his work in the clinches across the physical contest.

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Wednesday, 7th December 2022

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