For the fourth consecutive year, Mundulla has finished a hard-fought season lifting the premiership cup after a stunning come-from-behind win in the 2021 Bendigo Bank Kowree Naracoorte Tatiara Football League grand final.

Pumped up by a huge supporter base on home turf, Padthaway set the game alight with a blitzing start.

The likes of Archie Longbottom, Thomas Edwards and Nathan McCarthy led the physical assault and a dream day for the Lions appeared to be on track.

The home crowd could sense something special brewing with the town’s team leading 26-7 at the first change of ends.

Despite scoring slowing in the second term, Padthaway increased its lead and looked impregnable.

However, the tables turned in the third quarter as the Northern Tigers showed off their years of premiership experience.

The midfield of Jack McGrice, Nicholas and Dylan Mosey started to dominate the battle for possession, while Tom Gaden held down the fought in defence.

At the other end of the ground Darcy King and Luke Wiese presented themselves brilliantly up forward to kick six goals between them.

The end result of the quarter of carnage was an eight-point lead to Mundulla which left the Padthaway players and spectators in a state of shock.

With a grandstand finish in prospect, the big crowd watched the action with baited breath, but the Northern Tigers showed their class.

The Lions had no answers as the Gaden led backline kept the hosts goalless for the entire second half as the reigning premiers turned a 24-point deficient into an 18-point triumph.

Premiership coach Nick Davies said he was proud of the entire team and rated 2021 as the hardest premiership in the streak.

“I could not be happier,” he said.

“We were lucky to getaway with a slow start and it was not looking good at half time and it was not in our wildest dreams to lead at three-quarter time.

“To the boys’ credit they started winning the ball at the source, upped the pressure and wrestled the momentum back our way.

“It was probably our best being away from home against the red-hot favourites and down six goals to one early in the second quarter.

“The boys just gritted their teeth and the rest is history.”

Despite Mundulla increasing it’s A Grade winning streak to a fourth season, it entered the game as the underdogs having not defeated a rampant Padthaway all year.

The Lions lived up the tag early, but were completely overwhelmed when push came to shove.

Davies said credited the turnaround behind some gutsy work in all areas of the ground.

“We had the last three scoring shots of the second quarter as Padthaway started to run out of legs, which gave us huge belief at half time,” he said.

“We thought if we could apply more pressure early the week off could come back to bite Padthaway.

“Darcy King up forward got going taking some big marks and Tom Gaden was pivotal controlling the backline, while our whole midfield brigade were phenomenal executing the plan.”

After Mundulla pulled off a miraculous comeback to rain on Padthaway’s parade, everyone in the KNTFL world is wondering how the dynasty will be broken.

Reserves Bordertown 3.9 (27) d Mundulla 2.5 (17)

Despite not scoring a single goal before half time, Bordertown rallied to a gutsy win over Mundulla in the Reserves decider on Saturday.

After Harry Dowling and Nicholas Mitchell scored the only goals in the first half, it appeared the war of attrition was being won by the Northern Tigers.

However, the Roosters were not completely out of the picture having produced six scoring chances through the hard work of Nicholas Hampel and Jarred Creaser.

After half time Bordertown lifted its game and completely shutdown Mundulla’s scoring avenues to close the deficit down to a solitary point by three-quarter time.

With the pressure on the Roosters showed what they are made of by surging into the lead.

Jayden Mccarthy, Josh Barras and Bradley Lodewyk scored the critical goals in the 27-17 victory.

Senior Colts Kybybolite 6.8 (44) d Naracoorte 6.5 (41)

Another thrilling fight for the Senior Colts premiership kept fans captivated as Kybybolite and Naracoorte went goal for goal.

A hot pace was set early and the Demons emerged five points in front after an opening quarter scoring shootout.

However, the second term was the opposite with no goals scored as the game fluctuated between the breaks.

A hat-trick from Jack David Steadman pushed Naracoorte to a 10-point buffer before three-quarter tine, but the result was not going to be decided until the death.

In the end, two goals each from Max Malone and Oliver Bennett was enough for Kyby to complete a sterling come-from-behind triumph.

Junior Colts Bordertown 7.7 (49) d Naracoorte 3.1 (19)

The two dominant sides of the Junior Colts season faced off on the big stage but only the Roosters could bust a move.

The Demons led by Cooper Atkinson were in the game early, but stumbled after quarter time.

Bordertown did not need an extra invitation as Ned Mccarthy tore it up scoring four goals in a best-on-ground performance.

His actions inspired Bordertown to a comprehensive five-goal triumph.