In sport, when you get one team into a grand final after a season’s slog, you are pretty contented.

So imagine if you get seven teams into premiership deciders on the one day what the feeling is like around the club in the build up and then on the day.

That was the scenario in 2015 in the Murray Football Netball League when Echuca United’s netballers did what most thought would be the impossible.

All seven United teams contesting premierships on that September grand final day at Moama won flags.

The A, B, C, C-reserve, under-15s, under-13s and under-12s teams all rose to the occasion in what is and still is a league record and an unforgettable day on the courts for the club.

Fiona Davis was president of the netball club at the time and supported by a great committee at the time at Echuca United, and took time off recently to reflect on the almost freakish outcome.

“We were confident that we may have won a couple, even four (flags) but to win them all was unexpected but so very exciting,” she said.

“Our B grade team had the biggest challenge , facing the unbeaten Tongala, after a draw at the final siren, then into time on, and the girls played out of their skins, and won the battle.

“After this we had 6 from 6 with A Grade to go , and we started thinking could this actually happen but it did.

“We didn’t forget to celebrate either.

“Grant (Mathews) was the head coach, coaching our A and B grade sides, and leading and supporting our team of coaches, and we had a great working relationship.”

Fiona said Matthews being a numbers man and a great strategist as a coach approached her on grand final week, expressing a feeling of the possible outcome which eventuated which was particularly fitting as it was 21 years since the club was formed.

“We even had one player, Remy Day, who played in three premiership teams on the day,” she said.

“We thought at the time - could this really be happening?

“Grant , achieved ‘Coach of the Year’ sporting award in 2016 in recognition of his feat and the Club achieved the ‘Team of the Year’ on the same night.

“To have seven out of eight grades represented on one grand final day, and to come home with all seven premierships and seven Best Player in Finals, was an incredible achievement for one club, which could not have been achieved if we didn’t have the army of players, committee, supporters , families around us at that time.

“We are still pinching ourselves that we had the season of all seasons and we made history and broke all league records.

“The Under 11s even though scoring wasn’t a thing they also had an unbeaten record for the season but sadly our Under 17s were part of a strong competition and failed to reach the grand final but put together a very strong season.”

Echuca United Football Netball Club will be reliving that memorable day in 2015 at the end of this month.

A 10 year reunion is being celebrated on May 31 at the Echuca United Football Club versus Rumbulara from 1pm.

“We are hoping as many past players, past and present committee members ,families and supporters who were part of Echuca United’s history making day will in attendance,” Davis said.

Please feel free to make contact with Fiona Davis 0409 937050 if you want more information regarding the reunion celebration.

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Tuesday, 31st December 2024

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