RIVERINA FOOTBALL LEAGUE
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A DAY that promised so much for Mangoplah-Cookardinia United-Eastlakes ended in despair as the Goannas were left to pick up the pieces from a 13-point grand final defeat on Sunday.
Just as everything looked so good for MCUE when up by 30 points midway through the second quarter, it was quickly taken away from them as this time they were on the receiving end of a come-from-behind victory.
Victorious in its last two finals after giving away big starts, MCUE was overrun by an impressive CAK team that was desperate not to taste a third-successive grand final defeat.
Not only was the loss disappointing for the Goannas' faithful, but it was also an unfortunate way for coach Nathon Irvin to finish his three-year tenure at MCUE after guiding its climb up the ladder.
Irvin said MCUE was simply beaten by the better team on the day.
"We just didn't have enough blokes play their best footy, or near there enough," Irvin said.
"We were outworked and outrun on the outside.
"They just burnt us."
As for the 30-point lead, Irvin said his team failed to lift when CAK went up another couple of levels.
"That's modern footy," he said.
"It's hard to maintain four quarters of maximum effort.
"They came at us and in the end they were all over us.
"They totally outworked us I thought.
"We were probably able to win the inside ball pretty well but as soon as it got outside they just chopped us up.
"We had guys that weren't accountable enough."
Irvin, at 41 years of age, now bows out of senior footy after a marvellous career.
The Goannas have improved significantly during his three-year stint and he admits it is not a good note to finish on.
"It's disappointing," he said.
"It would be nice to have this and feel a real sense of satisfaction and to be able to sit back and go well we did it.
"But sometimes with goals, the only variable is time.
"Sometimes you need a bit more time.
"We set a three-year goal to win a flag and at least we're on the path, we're moving forward.
"The main thing is that it might just take a little bit longer to get to that point, but it doesn't mean I'm going to keep going."
Irvin is happy with the position he leaves the club.
"I'm also wary that we've got to keep that momentum going," he said.
"I think all the things are in place for a successful future for the club and I guess they've never been here before in the RFL so there is some positives there."
Irvin conceded the Goannas pulled the wrong rein at the selection table on Friday night.
MCUE dropped Dusty Rogers, a RFL representative from earlier in the season, who performed a run-with role on Matt Beckmans admirably in the second semi-final.
Beckmans was best-on-ground in Sunday's decider.