Ever since the turn of the decade, one team has struck fear into the Picola District Football League having won every senior football grand final on offer upon emergence from COVID-19-muddied waters.
That team is the Bombers, and on Saturday, they hunt another.
Last weekend’s 30-point victory over minor premier Katamatite signals Waaia’s 11th consecutive unbeaten performance, thrusting Mitch Cleeland’s charges to the top of the form guide ahead of a grand slam decider against Katandra at Rennie.
Going for all the marbles again, Cleeland is bullish his boys have done everything within their power to best prepare for taking out what would be a storied three-peat.
“We’ve timed our run as well as we could,” he said.
“We battled a little bit through the middle of the year with injuries, form and consistency and that sort of thing, but we’ve got to a stage now where we think we’re going okay.
“We’ve got a strong list together and everything is clicking at the moment so it’s going well.”
The Bombers go in as the hunted, but will have the memory of round eight burnt into their brains.
Katandra had already steamrolled its first six opponents and soon made it seven after stunning Waaia by 47 points, tilting the scales in the Kats’ favour from then on.
While that result is long gone, Cleeland is wary of the threat Katandra poses.
“We did have a few guys that weren’t available but they (Katandra) just played a better brand of footy than us on the day,” he said.
“Hopefully we can learn from the mistakes we made and use the ball a bit better and play a better defensive brand footy as well.
“That can hold us in good stead and we see what happens from there I guess.”
Speaking of threats, Waaia possesses plenty of its own.
Key forwards Charlie Burrows (85 goals) and Connor Brown (63), speedster Harvey Walker as well as pocket rockets Ash Thompson and Jesse Trower have turned games on heads this season and will seek to do so again when crossing the border for the big dance.
Even Cleeland himself is one hell of a handy footballer.
But he was quick to dig out the age-old adage that a complete squad of 21 or 22 wins games, especially the biggest of them all.
“We’re probably just reliant on a group effort at the minute,” he said.
“I know it’s a bit cliche but we don’t rely on too many (individuals) and we like to pride ourselves on that.
“Hopefully once again on the weekend everyone can play their role and that gets us where we need to be.”
Should Waaia go all the way, a small layer of lacquer would be taken off it as the Bombers’ reserves were unable to defend their premiership after being barrelled out in the preliminary final.
Other than that slight blip, it’s adrenaline-on-tap, warrior-mentality stuff for Cleeland and his blazing Bombers approaching the ultimate accolade.
“Firstly we’re a little bit disappointed we couldn’t get our reserves through to the final as well, but it’s now just excitement for the senior group,” he said.
“We’re just looking forward to the opportunity again.”
