RIVERINA FOOTBALL LEAGUE
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MANGOPLAH-Cookardinia United-Eastlakes' time has come.
Almost 20 years after making the move from the Farrer League, MCUE will enter its first senior Riverina Football League (RFL) grand final when it takes on old foe Collingullie-Ashmont-Kapooka.
It has been 21 years since the Goannas' lasted tasted success in seniors when it claimed the last premiership of a very successful era when beating North Wagga in the 1993 Farrer League grand final.
The Goannas will finally get a taste of RFL grand final action but for the club it is about a whole lot more than one game.
MCUE has all three football teams through to grand final day, as well as its top two netball grades, A grade and A reserve.
MCUE will be represented in five of the seven games, something MCUE president David Griffin explained is no fluke.
"It's been quite a few years in the making," Griffin said.
"It's not just a result of this year, 10 to 15 years of hard work has led to it.
"It's a pretty big achievement.
"Any club within the league would be happy to have one team in the grand final so to have five of the seven is a fantastic achievement.
"It speaks volumes of the quality of people involved in the club, from the volunteers to players and coaches, it's everyone."
A large group of supporters turned out to the Goannas' final training session last night, with several mini-buses and the like planned to ship everyone across to Narrandera on Sunday.
Griffin said it was a wonderful time to be involved with the club.
"It's good, everything is really vibrant," he said.
"Over the last couple of years you would get to this time of year and the numbers would start to drop off as the teams finished up.
"At training this week it's been great to have all three football teams, and the netballers training as well.
"There is a lot of nervous anticipation but it's a great experience for the club."
Griffin said MCUE was particularly proud of the fact that within the three football teams, only a handful had not played juniors at Eastlakes-MCU.
He said the affiliation with Eastlakes-MCU is one of the major reasons behind where they are today.