Heading into round 10 of the Murray Football League season, it seemed like there was a clear understanding of who the top two teams in the competition were.
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The reigning premier Mulwala, undefeated and on top of the ladder and pre-season darling Congupna, flying high in second with one loss.
But that perception was shattered at the weekend as the Lions and The Road suffered shock defeats after faltering in the final term.
Numurkah handed Mulwala its first loss of the season after an extraordinary fourth-quarter comeback had it prevail by one point, while Finley too rallied in the final term to stun second-placed Congupna and win by three.
It is a pair of results that has huge implications on the 2023 season, transforming the league from a two-horse race into an eight-team battle royale.
The Blues trailed Mulwala by 30 points at quarter-time and by 23 at the final change, but Benjamin Millen’s goal with a minute to go completed an incredible turnaround.
The Blues kicked 4.1 to the Lions’ one behind in the final term to prevail 12.8 (80) to 12.7 (79), stunning the home fans at Mulwala.
“It was a really good game of footy, to be honest. It was tough, pressure was high by both teams,” Numurkah coach Sean Harrap said.
“You always want to be in those games of footy, especially against good opposition. There was some really good feelings in the rooms after the game.
“But we understand that it is just a win against a good team, we can’t then falter and go out and put in a dull performance next week.
“We enjoyed the moment and the supporters were rapt to see us get a good win.”
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Blue bagger: Tongala's Brock McLean dishes off a handball against Deniliquin. Photo by Josh HuntlyImage 2 of 5
Long bomb: Deniliquin's Zach Lauritsen gets boot to ball. Photo by Josh HuntlyImage 3 of 5
Ruck duel: The big men for Deniliquin and Tongala fly for the ball. Photo by Josh HuntlyImage 4 of 5
Contest: Tongala’s Kyle Fitzgerald battles Deni's Zach Lauritsen. Photo by Josh HuntlyImage 5 of 5
On the hunt: Moama’s Ned Osborne and Kyal Atkinson chase after the ball. Photo by Rechelle ZammitIt was a see-sawing encounter at Lonsdale Oval at Mulwala.
The home side kicked seven goals to two in the opening term, but the Blues battled back to trim the margin to 11 at the main break.
Mulwala again pulled away in the third term with three goals to one, but Numurkah rallied once more to come back and snatch victory right at the death.
Harrap said remaining positive throughout the game was a key reason the Blues were able to come from behind not once, but twice.
“We tried to keep it as positive as possible as coaches. And that is what was pleasing about it – the boys didn’t drop their heads, they just copped what happened and we moved forward,” Harrap said.
“We probably weren’t playing our best footy in the first and third quarters and Mulwala was able to get away, but I still think we were playing okay. Over a four-quarter game, the effort was there and that is what we want each and every week.”
Josh Evans and Claye Sculthorpe each booted four goals for the Blues, while Josh O'Dwyer’s bravery stood out in a best-on-ground performance.
“In the second quarter Josh O’Dwyer had a couple of courageous acts,” Harrap said.
“He put his body where some probably wouldn’t and it sent a statement to the rest of the playing group and it flipped a switch.”
Meanwhile, up the road at Finley, it was the Cats who caused the second boilover of the weekend after toppling Congupna 12.8 (80) to 11.11 (77).
The fast-starting Cats jumped out to a 16-point lead at quarter-time, but The Road battled back and held a seven-point advantage of their own at the final change.
The game was on a knife’s edge, but it was the home side that held its nerve as Finley kicked 2.1 to Congupna’s 1.0 to claim its second big scalp in the past three weeks.
“It was disappointing. We had our chances and we just didn’t make the most of them,” Congupna co-coach Kevin O’Donoghue said.
“We led for most of the second half and they hit the front late in the second half. It is disappointing, those ones really hurt.
“Finley was too good on the day. They have some quality players – they have a really strong midfield, a good full-forward and some really good kids running around.
“We knew it was going to be a danger game because they beat Moama and pushed Mulwala, and at home they are always hard to beat. To their credit, they ran out the game better than us. All credit to them.”
Elsewhere, Moama had a resounding 32.17 (209) to 1.2 (8) victory over Rumbalara, while Nathalia defeated Barooga 17.4 (106) to 11.7 (73).
Mulwala and Congupna’s losses and those other results have had the ladder bunch right up.
Two wins separate second from eighth, with Mulwala still four points clear on top.
Echuca United was too strong for Tocumwal 16.19 (115) to 5.7 (37) and Deniliquin bettered Tongala 11.7 (73) to 8.13 (61) in the weekend’s other games.