Mundulla is through to yet another Bendigo Bank Kowree Naracoorte Tatiara Football League grand final after it edged out Keith in a tense, low-scoring prelim at Kingston on Saturday.
With the Northern Tigers hoping to keep their dream of four successive years of success alive and the Crows seeking revenge from 2018, a win meant everything to both clubs.
It quickly became evident scoring favoured one end of the ground and Mundulla enjoyed the privilege of kicking with the wind first.
The reigning premiers started convincingly kicking the first two goals of the game as Jake McGrice and Nicholas Mosey got involved.
But when the teams changed ends, so did the momentum when Henry McMurray and Virgo Medal runner-up Will McMurray started to find more of the footy.
Despite scoring proving difficult in the tricky conditions, a thrilling finish was one the cards at half tome with the rivals split by a solitary point on the scoreboard.
Kicking with the wind Mundulla knew it had to seize on its opportunity in the premiership quarter and did that by kicking two important goals.
However, the Northern Tigers kept the door open by missing six shots at goal with a 12-point lead at the final change.
The Crows threatened to swoop in during yet another nail-biting finale.
The likes Ben Simounds, Albert Dunstan and J Jones were hungry inside 50, but could only nail one of seven scoring shots.
Meanwhile, an opportunistic goal from Mundulla was all it took to ensure the mighty club enjoys yet another grand final berth where Padthaway is hoping to snatch the crown on home turf.
The Northern Tigers’ opponent in the Reserves grand final was also decided by another nail-biting playoff where scoring proved a challenge.
Bordertown emerged victorious, but the game certainly did not go to script.
The Roosters spluttered off the line with just one goal in the first term to hand Kingston a nine-point lead.
The pace lifted in the second when both sides banged home two goals each with the Saints maintaining their lead with the help of Ethan Murdock and Ashley Stenner.
Having trailed since the opening bounce, Bordertown made its move in the third term by kicking two vital majors.
Josh Barras and Nicholas Hampel were influential to the fightback which left the scoreboard level with one quarter to play and provide a dream scenario for the fans.
With the pressure on the Saints crumbled and could only add one minor score to their tally, which gave the Roosters the perfect chance to snatch the win.
A three-goal haul from Jayden Mccarthy handed Bordertown the 43-35 win.
Keith and Naracoorte played out another classic in the Senior Colts preliminary final.
The Crows raced out of the blocks helped Ben Wilsdon by scoring the first of four goals.
But the tables turned in the second term when the Demons charged to the lead as Jack David Steadman also opened his bag of four.
Although the action on the scoreboard slightly slowed down, the interest remained sky high with no one enjoying an advantage heading into the final quarter.
Despite Keith being more efficient inside 50, Naracoorte created more chances and Sam Thomson helped the red and blue hold on by two points.
Naracoorte sealed tickets to both under-age deciders after its Junior Colts side crushed Mundulla in the opening game of the day.
The first half was no contest as the Demons did not give their opponents a sniff.
The scoreboard read 37-3 at half time and despite H Davies scoring Mundulla’s only two goals, nothing was going to stop Naracoorte rollicking towards a 49-point win.
Riley Mcmullan was the hero with four goals.
