Rupertswood will have its first chance at Essendon District Football League glory after winning through to its first grand final.
Having joined the EDFL in 2021, the Sharks have experienced the ups and downs, including making a division 1 preliminary final and being relegated.
On Sunday, the Sharks put that all behind them to win through to the division 2 grand final.
“It’s just fantastic,” Sharks co-coach Brad Fox said straight after the game.
“You do 10 months of training to get this opportunity, and it’s a win in itself to get the opportunity.
“From there, well you just hope you can do the job on the day.”
Fox, who came on board before last season, said they had touched on the journey they’ve had the past two years to get to this point.
The club lost several players before the start of last season but has built a culture that people have wanted to come back to.
“It would be nice to make our way back [to division 1],” Fox said.
“We were talking before the game about a thing called the hero’s journey and this has been our hero’s journey sort of year.
“We had a flat spot in the middle of the season with a few injuries and lost three games in a row. We just refocused and reset.
“The guys have executed on that ever since.”
On Saturday, the Sharks faced minor premiers Glenroy in a preliminary final.
The Sharks had the Roys measure during the season, beating them twice, including in the final round of the regular season.
Fox gave credit to Glenroy for the season that they’d had. He said for whatever reason they seem to match up well against them.
He said while the scoreboard looks favourable their way, there wasn’t much between the two sides.
The Sharks led at both the first breaks but there wasn’t much between them.
Rupertswood was able to get some momentum in the third quarter with three goals to none to lead by 26 points heading into the last break.
The game opened up in the last quarter and when the result was beyond doubt, the Sharks kicked away to a 12.9 (81)-5.10 (40) win.
Fox said both sides had their chances to put some more scoreboard pressure on.
“They hit the post a couple of times and we wasted a couple of opportunities, especially in the second quarter,” he said.
“We lost a little bit of our composure up forward but we got it back and finished well.”
Fraser Phelan-Smith kicked four goals and was named best on ground for a second straight week.
Skipper Daniel Kavanagh and co-coach Clayton Bonello were other standouts.
The Sharks now face Westmeadows in the grand final on Saturday at Highgate Reserve in Craigieburn after the Tigers beat Keilor Park in the other preliminary final.
Rupertswood is yet to beat Westmeadows this season.
“They’re last win against us was with less than a second to go, a kick right on the siren,” Fox said.
“We mucked up our ability to lock down a winning position with 12 seconds to go. We’ve learned from that.
“It will be a ripping grand final.”
