The 2024 Murray Football League Reserve grade Premiers, Mulwala Lions. The Lions had a thrilling victory, claiming the coveted premiership by 1 point at Moama’s Recreation Reserve on Saturday.
Photo by
Les_Garbutt
Mulwala have brought home two premiership cups from the 2024 Murray Football League Grand Finals on Saturday.
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After an extremely successful 2024 season that saw Mulwala have all four football teams in the finals series and three reach the Grand Final, the club has tasted success with both the Reserves and Under 14s winning the ultimate prize while the Under 17s team were defeated narrowly in a thrilling match at Moama.
Reserves best on ground Dylan Robinson.
Photo by
Les_Garbutt
Mulwala: 0.3, 3.5, 4.8, 7.10.52.
Deniliquin Rams: 2.0, 4.2, 7.3, 8.3.51.
Goals: Mulwala: S. Robinson 3, J. Bland 2, C. Magher 1, A. Heslin 1.
Deniliquin Rams: Z. Free 2, B. Macdonald 2, A. Free 2, D. McManus 1.
Best: Mulwala: T. Wilson, S. Robinson, D. Robinson, J. Bland, C. Carling, J. Wheeler.
Deniliquin Rams: J. Tyndall, C. Howe, Z. Free, J. Pitts, D. Cullenward, D. McManus.
The Mulwala Reserves went into the Grand Final as underdogs although they got the better of Deni in the Semi Final.
Deni had been the strongest team all year and were topped up with some senior listed players returning for finals.
Cam Carling fights hard to maintain this football under pressure.
Photo by
Les_Garbutt
A two goal to zero first quarter from Deni had the loyal Mulwala supporters all heading to the huddle at quarter time to pump up their team and show their love for the midday legends.
Inspired by Coach Lach Orr, the team came out firing in the second quarter and club legends Thomas Wilson, Sean and Dylan Robinson started to influence the game with their strength and skill.
Joseph Bland was playing the quarter of his life and kicked straight on two occasions to claw back the scoreboard deficit to within 3 points at half time.
Tim Cooper keeps his eyes on the ball in front of a large crowd.
Photo by
Les_Garbutt
Deni kicked away again in the third and it would have been by more if not for the desperation and desire of the backline led by Nathan Beasley, Cam Carling and Josh Ednie.
Coach Orr asked for one last hurrah at ¾ time as the team trailed by 13 points and the entire playing group stepped up to the plate and responded with an unbelievable will to create for their teammates.
Dylan Robinson set up multiple Mulwala attacks and brother Sean finished them off as Mulwala forced the ball forwards from the middle of the ground through the hard work of Austin Frauenfelder, Matt McLachlan and Mitch Appleby as Jaxen Wheeler worked in tandem with Thomas Wilson to punish the Deni attempts to defend.
Gus Heslin looks to get the ball away in the Lions thrilling win.
Photo by
Les_Garbutt
Mulwala fought back amazingly to take the lead, Deni responded, and with the two teams tied at 51 points apiece for 6 minutes, that felt like an eternity as both teams battled as hard as each other on tired legs.
The Mulwala crowd’s thoughts went to last years draw and time on in the Grand Final.
A huge game saving tackle by Hornet Frauenfelder on the wing and an even bigger contested possession from Thomas Wilson surged Mulwala forward where Sean Robbo covered himself in glory with a snap that hit the post and Mulwala was in front.
The final two minutes were as intense as any in country footy as Mulwala put their bodies on the line time and again to hold up the Deni advances.
Marcus Larkin stretches long for this contested ball.
Photo by
Les_Garbutt
Enter Tim Cooper who forever the backman took a strong mark on the line to stop a certain Deni goal and ran the time down as the siren sounded and Mulwala erupted with cries of excitement coming away with a Grand Final victory for the ages.
The entire Mulwala Football/Netball Club cannot thank the many supporters and volunteers enough that make it possible for such success on the field and look forward to the 2025 Murray League season when the Lions will strive again for the ultimate in club success.
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