Congupna wins first premiership since joining the Murray league

Will Norman stamped his name into club folklore with a flag-winning behind. See all the pics and go inside the history-making victory.

Congupna clinched its first Murray league premiership by one point in a dramatic grand final at Moama on Saturday after Will Norman stamped his name into club folklore with the flag-winning behind.

The prospect of extra-time loomed large when Finley stormed back from 24 points down at three quarter time to level the scores twice.

At the 31-minute mark, Finley ruckman Lachlan Hawkins slammed through a goal from 25m out to draw level for a second time after Jesse White connected sweetly on a long bomb on the run to do the same minutes earlier.

Congupna’s BJ Squire marks in front of Finley’s Zach Brain. Pictures: Yuri Kouzmin

Both goals raised hopes Finley would end its own flag drought dating back to 1988.

But The Road refused to crumble under the final term furnace lit by Finley after trailing by 33 points midway through the third term.

Kyle Mueller registered his 100th goal of the season early in the third quarter when Congupna threatened to blow the match apart.

Congupna captain Daniel Schaper.

But there was no more important kick from a tough angle than the one he converted to put Congupna back in front after Finley had drawn level the first time.

Following the Hawkins goal to level again, Congupna pushed forward and needed another hero.

Norman answered the call when he accepted a handball from captain Daniel Schaper and kicked Congupna’s most important behind since it joined the Murray league.

“I knew we just had to score,” Norman said.

“The boys worked so hard and it doesn’t just come down to that point.

“It’s all the work we’ve done during the year.

“We’ve deserved this.”

Congupna’s Kyle Mueller brought up his 100th goal in the grand final.

Congupna also broke a 31-year premiership drought with its previous flag coming in the Tungamah District league before joining the Murray league in 1997.

The grand final takings were a record $80,850, up on last year’s $64,638 when Congupna lost to Mulwala.

The finals series gate-takings of $187,000 were also a record.

“It’s been a whole of club effort to bring this one home,” Congupna coach Ben Bingham said.

“We sung the song with all of our supporters.

“The first half was a real grind, we know that is how they like to play.

“We got the game on our terms and got some free-flowing footy going, but we just tensed up a bit in the end.

“I thought we were going into overtime there for a sec.”

Congupna veteran Josh Chapman joins in the celebrations after the one-point grand final win over Finley.

The first two quarters were a tough watch.

Congupna led by seven points at halftime with only five goals kicked by both teams before The Road made its move in the third term.

Mueller set off the big contingent of success-starved Congupna fans when he broke free of tight-checking opponent Kayden Sharp to snap his 100th goal.

Teammate Jack Trewin thrilled the big crowd again when he gathered a loose ball out-the-back at half-forward and ran in another goal with no Finley defender in sight.

Trewin kicked four goals, but was pipped for best-on-ground medal honours by ruckman Sam Buxton.

“It was pretty intense there at the end,” Trewin said.

“But we just had that mindset of we’ve come this far and everyone just dug deep.

“We know what we do works because we’ve done it all year.”

Congupna’s Will Norman kicked the matchwinning behind in the grand final.

Finley successfully moved some magnets at three quarter time to almost pinch the premiership.

Zac Brain was thrown into the ruck and Angus Robertson sent forward.

The early goal Finley craved came mid-air, soccer-style from Mitch Carson.

Two more goals from Tom Lang and Robertson and the Cats were only six points down with plenty of time left and suddenly with all the momentum.

Finley’s Mitchell Carson gathers the ball.

Finley coach Jordan Taylor limped from the ground with a hamstring injury early in the last quarter before coming back on and playing as the deepest forward.

“It was a really good game,” Taylor said.

“I thought we fought back really hard after probably letting ourselves down for 15-20 minutes.

“Credit to them, Congupna was the best side all year, they were really organised, so they deserved it.

“We just had to get the game back on our terms and make it a bit more ugly and contested.

“I thought we did get it back there on our terms in the last quarter.”

MATCH DETAILS

CONGUPNA 2.2 3.5 7.8 9.11 (65)

FINLEY 1.2 2.4 3.8 9.10 (64)

Goals: CONGUPNA: J. Trewin 4, D. Schaper 2, K. Mueller 2, J. Norman. FINLEY: M. Carson 2, J. White, T. Lang, N. Burns, Z. Brain, L. Moore, L. Hawkins, A. Robertson.

Best: CONGUPNA: J. Trewin, S. Buxton, J. Boyer, R. Damianopoulos, B. Squire, C. Boyer. FINLEY: L. Moore, K. Sharp, M. Carson, A. Robertson, J. White, T. Lang.

Congupna’s Kyle Mueller is sandwiched between two Finley players.

Congupna’s Jack Norman tackles Finley’s Mitchell Carson.

Congupna’s Daniel Campbell celebrates his goal in grand final.

Congupna’s Daniel Campbell marks over Finley’s Jesse White.

Congupna’s Sam Buxton grabs Finley’s Lachlan Hawkins high.

Congupna coach Ben Bingham.

Congupna’s Kyle Mueller has his marking attempt spoiled by Finley’s Kyle Coates.

Congupna’s Charles Boyer applies a perfect tackle on Finley’s Jake Maconachie.

Finley’s Angus Robertson was moved forward in the last quarter of the grand final.

Finley’s Nik Burns booted a last term goal in the grand final.

Congupna’s James Boyer is tackled by Finley’s Paul Massingham.

Congupna coach Ben Bingham.

Congupna captain Daniel Schaper, coach Ben Bingham and best-on-ground Sam Buxton.