WAGGA United's second premiership in as many years is something coach Travis Weir could only describe as being a "very special feeling."
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The Crows claimed the minor premiership after dropping two games all year, but struggled in the finals series until yesterday.
Losing 3-1 in the major semi-final to Tolland, United had to survive a penalty shoot-out against Junee to book its place in the grand final.
Playing against the Jaguars with only 10 men, Weir thought was the catalyst for the team's change in attitude and performance.
Saying the Wolves "taught us a few footballing lessons throughout the year", to turn a 3-1 semi-final defeat into a 3-1 grand final win was a show of the character within the team.
"It's a big turnaround and we had to try and stick to our structure, we didn't play good football at all in that game and the week after we struggled as well," Weir said.
"It wasn't until we went down to 10 men that the boys realised there was something wrong and it was our work rate and our mentality.
"It was a harsh lesson to learn last week in terms on going a man down and having to regroup that way, but it set the standard for us."
Adam Holmes and Moses Donato were two late additions for the Crows midway through the season, and stood tall in the decider.
Donato was judged man of the match, while Weir heaped praise on Holmes.
"We had a really good squad of players this year and were really lucky to do so and to add a few more halfway through the season was the quality we needed," he said.
"Just a bit of experience back in the game ... the two best players were the ones the we re-signed (later in the year)."
Lincoln Weir overcame an early ankle injury to be United's rock in defence with captain Chris McKenzie was a fly in the ointment for the Wolves, creating havoc in the midfield and fraying plenty of tempers in doing so.
In an ominous sign for the future, Wagga United have youth and now big game experience on its side.
"They are a just a young group of boys - we are a very, very young team," Weir said.
"There was a lot of experience in that Tolland side so for us to get over the top in such a dramatic stage like a grand final was pretty special."
