Rain battered Moama Recreation Reserve for most of the day, with the lights switched on midway through the senior football grand final.
But it failed to dissuade local fans — grand final football and netball was back.
Following the Saturday, September 17, grand finals the league announced a record-breaking gate of $60,584 for the day, and MFNL operations manager Dale Norman said approximately 5000 people packed in for the showpiece event.
“We believe we had five-and-a-half thousand spectators,” Norman said.
“It was a record gate of more than $60,000 so that’s beaten the previous record at Moama in 2015 ($58,146).”
It’s a refreshing economic boost after a lean three years due to the COVID-19 pandemic which saw the 2020 season cancelled and 2021 season shortened due to ongoing restrictions.
“The (gate) prices haven’t changed so we’re absolutely rapt considering the weather conditions. It was outstanding that the supporters came along,” Norman said.
“It was just wonderful to see all the smiles.”
At the first grand finals since 2019, fans were treated to spectacles left, right, and centre.
All four football grand final were decided by less than a goal, while the under-17 netball grand final was forced to extra time after Tongala and Moama couldn’t be split.
Norman said it was good to be back for the league’s final day after three years of hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I don’t think you’ll ever get a day like it where we had four games decided by under a goal, and then the under-17 netball going to overtime,” he said.
“The football was excellent but the crowds around the netball courts were amazing. The atmosphere at the end of every game was unbelievable.
“It was one of the great days.”
Much like recent grand final days at Moama, the storylines were endless.
Mulwala brought an end to 32 years of premiership heartache with a thrilling three-point win over Cobram in the senior football grand final.
Moama sealed a famous B-grade three-peat, while Tongala’s reserves and Echuca United C-grade went back-to-back.
Deniliquin’s A-grade netballers also joined the Blues in capping off an undefeated season with victory over Rumbalara.
Cobram took out the under-14 title while Nathalia ensured more premiership silverware landed at the Purples with a one-point win in the under-17 grand final.
