Exactly what has prompted the Hawks to go to ground in the biggest - and, usually, most enjoyable – week of the year, isn’t clear. Perhaps a world-weariness as they enter grand final week for the third year in a row; or a case of nerves, having lost the last two; or just mind-games to try to put the pressure on to their opponents.

Whatever the case, it’s easier to spend four hours driving to Coleambally and back for Farrer League grand final stories than sit like a jilted lover waiting for the Gumly phone to ring.  

Out on the Kidman Way, those who have been driving the 180km each way journey for the last four weeks (and sometimes twice on a weekend) are excited about what a fifth straight weekend of driving to Wagga means for the community.

Of course, the Blues haven’t been in a premiership decider since 2006. They haven’t won one since 2005. And that pales in comparison to the 34-year wait for EWK. But still the Coleambally crew is aware that grand final week isn’t just about them.

“The older fellas, they love it - they beat us to training and they’re usually the last to leave. It’d be good to do it for them,” Coleambally backman, Blake Jones, said.

“Even last night (Tuesday’s training), there was a heap of them that come down, have a beer and watch,” Blake’s older brother, Nathan Jones said.

He’s one of the survivors from the 2005 Coreen League success but lost one grand final before it and was there for the 2006 defeat.

“It’s been a fair while… we’re due for another one,” Nathan said.

He and Blake were at Coleambally sportsground along with cousin Jackson Painting who was considering what it meant to the old men of the club when they overcame the Northern Jets in extra-time in last week’s preliminary final.

“There was more of a tear in their eye on Saturday I noticed, just us getting into a grand final,” Painting said.

“And just having a beer with them on Saturday night and a couple of them on Sunday – just the grin on their faces is unbelievable. It’d be nice to win it for them.

“It’s everything to them. It’s not so much the boys, it’s trying to win one for the committee. Like, the amount of hours that they do. For the town already, just getting into the grand final’s a big thing. Like the streamers and all that around town, the community gets right behind it.”

Bill Irvin’s newsagent’s is decked out in support of the Blues, with a touch of red for the town’s rugby league team, Darlington Point-Coleambally.

He’s not 100-percent on the Blues bandwagon, but said it’s good for the town.

“Oh my word it is,” Irvin said.

“I am excited about the Aussie rules – they’ve been a bit lucky to be there and they’ve put up a good effort this year. But I’m more the rugby side. I’m actually a life member of the bloody rugby league – I did about 10 years bloody hard labour!”

Around the corner and down Bencubbin Road, former Coleambally coach and now captain Mitch Carroll takes a short break from work.

“There’s a special sort of feeling around here. Everyone’s keen to do well. Even if things don’t go our way on Saturday, I think the community are going to be pretty happy with where we’ve got,” Carroll said.

Carroll led the Blues to finals in his two seasons as coach, but they lost two straight the first year and then won one and lost one last season.

“Last year was monkey off the back a bit, to win a final,” Carroll said.

“[This year], probably we’ve had more players to choose from. And even though we’ve had injuries, we’ve been able to recover a lot better. Like if we lose a midfielder we can replace them with a midfielder.”

Carroll was brought up on football at Ganmain and is a premiership-winning coach in the Riverina League. But after four years at Coleambally, this is home.

“I guess it’s just such a similar club to what it was at home,” Carroll said. “Just all the little things like everyone gets in and gives you a hand. And there’s no individuals or no-one better than the next bloke beside them, so that’s the best thing about it.”

Carroll said the Blues had a low-key session at Tuesday’s night training as they began their preparation.

“You can’t really do much now with fitness or skills. It’s more about enjoying the week. Especially the young blokes that haven’t played in finals - soak it up,” he said.

The veteran midfielder had just one piece of advice to teammates who haven’t been here before.

“Enjoy the week. You’ll get a lot of phone calls off other people and that but you really just want to enjoy it, make the most of what the week is,” Carroll said.

“You might not play in another one, you just never know, so you’ve got to make the most of it.”

Out along the channels, farmer and assistant coach, Tom Groves, said no-one is under any illusions about the enormity of the task ahead, particularly after two heavy losses to the Hawks in the last five weeks.

“It’s going to be a massive challenge,” Groves said.

“They’ve had the last two good digs at us so it’s a massive challenge for us. It’s a grand final and anything can happen so we’re right up to the challenge.”

Groves returned to his home club after a season with Griffith last year, on the back of VFL experience with Coburg. With a young daughter, Haddie (now 18 months) he said it was time to come home.

“The last time I played at Coly it was 06 and we lost a grand final so to come back this year and get back into a grand final, and hopefully drive the boys home to get over the line, it means a lot,” he said.

So, on Saturday, the cars will be packed for one last trip to Wagga, in support of the Blues - travelling as much in hope as anticipation. But Jackson Painting says prepare for the best, just in case.

“It’ll be a ghost town here Saturday. It should be a fair crowd over there which’ll be exciting to play in front of,” Painting said.

“And just for the committee and the boys - to win it, that’d just be unreal to do… I can’t tell you how big it’ll be out here if we get up.”

And if not, well there’s always the rugby league.

“The reserves and 18s are playing this weekend again,” Irvin said, looking out at those red, white and blue streamers.

“And if they win that, they’re in the grand final.”