Troy Curtis was almost lost for words after his five goals in a match-winning performance for North Wagga.
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Not at what he'd done, but at what his team had achieved, going one better than last year after reversing the semi-final loss to East Wagga-Kooringal.
"I can't even describe it. It's amazing. We put in so much hard work after the semi and it's paid off.
"I don't even know what to say," Curtis said.
Once crucial to their backline, Curtis shifted forward early in the year when injuries reduced Saints' options for goalkickers. And he was the perfect target, and on target, on Saturday.
His speed, clever leading and safe hands ensured marks, and the radar was on from the time he kicked his first from an angle in the second quarter.
"I was a little bit nervous at the start but I felt pretty good once I got that first monkey off the back," Curtis said.
Curtis had two before half-time, ensuring Saints' ascendancy in the second quarter was reflected on the scoreboard.
He added two more in the third to keep the Hawks at bay, and finish with his team's final goal - the fifth putting the game out of reach by opening up a 26-point margin 17 minutes into the last quarter.
Five goals in a game matched his best (done twice earlier this year, against Coleambally and The Rock-Yerong Creek.
Not for a minute forgetting his roots, Curtis paid tribute to his men at the other end, in particular his old brother-in-arms at the back, Ben Alexander.
"Oh, Beano, by far. He took my position from last year and he's just killed it," Curtis said of their most valuable players, after Alexander was brilliant in providing drive out of defence.
"Wiz (midfielder, Cayden Winter)...
"And you can't fault the back six. That was an incredible win for the back six."
No-one has played more games for North Wagga since the club emerged from the season-in-exile and whether he was down back or up forward, Curtis has been critical to their game.
"Troy's one of our most important players, no doubt about that," coach Kirk Hamblin said.
"I'm not too sure that he rates himself too highly but for him to kick five in a grand final is a dream come true. And I wouldn't be stepping over the bridge (into North Wagga) for the next two or three days, that's for sure."
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