The three-time Wellman Medallist is one of the GVL’s most decorated netballers, a five-time A-grade premiership winner with Kyabram before making the move to Echuca prior to the 2021 season.
This Sunday, she will have the opportunity for flag number six when the Murray Bombers face Euroa.
For Mangan, there are three reasons this clash is different from her most recent triumph in 2017.
“This is a very different experience for me compared to others given I’ve got three boys now,” Mangan said.
“I don’t get that chance to stop and think about (the grand final) as much because you’re always on the go with them, there’s no downtime to think about it.
“I’m feeling excited and nervous, really looking forward to the challenge because we haven’t beaten Euroa this year.
“It’s such a great team to play with.”
The experienced Mangan, who has previously won flags with current teammates Steph Vick, Belinda Lees and Lauren Jones, said the side took some time to click into gear, with a mixture of players returning from pregnancies and some young faces making their way into the ranks of A-grade.
But it’s a formula that has proved effective, and the Murray Bombers have been near unstoppable at their peak.
“We took a bit to get going but once we did, Belinda (Lees) has been able to get us together and we’ve gelled quite nicely,” Mangan said.
“I had someone at work say to me ‘a lot of clubs were sort of thinking it would be this club, that club, you guys just cruised under the radar all year’.
“We seem to have peaked at the right time.
“Every game I take as a blessing. This one will be no different.”
Similar to 2017, she won’t be the only Mangan vying for glory.
Brother Brad will suit up for Kyabram in the senior football against Echuca, only this time the siblings are lining up for opposing clubs.
“He’ll be out there on Sunday too which is pretty unique and cool in its own way,” Mangan said.
“He’s getting older now too and he’s had two knee reconstructions in the last two seasons.
“If someone had said to us at the start of the year that we’d both be playing in a grand final we probably wouldn’t have believed you.
“It’s a special moment that we’re both out there. Our parents will be doing what they did six years ago and chop and change between the courts and oval.”
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