“The boys weren’t losing this one.”

Faced with another classic Murray Football League finish and with Cobram on the charge in the final quarter of the 2026 senior grand final, the nerves of the Congupna faithful might have been jangling after the heartbreak of last year’s three-point heartbreaker.

But a seasoned senior squad wasn’t letting this one go in their fourth consecutive decider.

Kyle Mueller launched skyward in trademark fashion on the grandstand flank following two vital final-quarter goals, and with the ball fittingly in his hands, the final siren blew to confirm a 14.6 (90) to 11.16 (82) triumph.

And when that beautiful sound rang out, the red wave descended on Congupna’s victorious champions.

Twelve months after their Moama heartbreak, the Road to redemption was complete, their ninth senior flag one of the sweetest yet.

It was the perfect way for hobbled coach Ben Bingham, directing his charges while on crutches, to end his coaching tenure.

“Words can't describe it at the moment,” Bingham said.

“We really put ourselves in a good position, but the luck that we had last year, you maybe thought that a couple more songs would come.

“Our boys just threw everything at it.

“Everyone sort of spoke about what happened last year during this season, but I think that's just held us in good stead to get this result at the end of the day.

“The boys weren't losing this one.”

Under clear spring skies, the opening exchanges were lively, with Perry Lewis-Smith and Tyron Baden combining to give the Tigers an early foothold.

Jack Norman and Dan Schaper, influential to start the day, snapped on the run before Charlie Mellington made it three goals on the spin in reply, to keep the Road within four points.

Norman’s second goal early in the second quarter was cancelled out by a rising Luca Allen, with fellow Tigers’ midfielder Bowen Calogero also lifting in the engine room.

The waning stages of the first half evolved into a contested back-and-forth, though Cobram’s back half was able to repel some of Congupna’s more probing entries until Sam Poole splits the sticks for the Road.

Bryden Squire’s influence throughout the midfield was telling, and when James Boyer found Kyle Mueller inside-50 - his first look on goal of the day in an entertaining clash against Bailey Roberts – he fired off Congupna’s eighth goal without a behind, a stark contrast to last year’s 5.21.

With the margin 11 points to the good of Congupna at half-time, the intent was clear from the Road as off-field drama sat in the wings.

Robbie Mifka crumbed the contest well and snapped truly, but when Sam Slavich shot the Road out to a game-high 21-point margin, eyes snapping to the digital scoreboard on the Kirchhofer St noticed it had gone dark.

On the other side of the ground, a clubroom fire prompted officials to evacuate supporters from the front viewing area and grandstand, with the old manual scoreboard hastily pressed back into service for the final quarter.

Luca Allen began to lift his Tigers’ midfield and Ben Ryan’s presence was felt down forward with back-to-back goals, spot-fires emerging around the ground to indicate the beginning of what was to be another classic run to the finish line.

Bingham implored his charges for one final effort in the sapping heat - he got it.

Mifka immediately saw the Road out to a 17-point buffer, but an opportunistic toe poke out of an inside-50 contest to Luca Allen saw him snap truly to keep the back-to-back dream alive.

Sixteen-year-old Eamon Hyde was thrown forward for the final quarter and made an immediate impact, taking a commanding pack mark and converting coolly under enormous pressure to drag the margin back to five points.

From here, the moments that defined a premiership were apparent.

Mueller sapped the Cobram momentum with a goal on the line, doubled shortly afterward with a falling, dribbling ball that suddenly had the Road back out to 17 points.

A Lewis-Smith shot on goal was parried right on the line by Cody Di Bella but when Tyron Baden was infringed inside-50, his second goal had Cobram back within range.

But too late, as Mueller pulled in a soaring mark to halt what had been an unbelievable finish to another classic grand final.

“Blokes like Schapes (Dan Schaper), our midfield brigade as well, led us really heavily in the first half,” Bingham said.

“Wiz (Kyle Mueller) and Shapes ,who probably didn't have finals that they'd like last year just really stood up.

“At the end of the day, we just took our opportunities.”

Bowen Calogero, Luca Allen, Sam Beasley and Tyron Baden led a gallant charge for back-to-back flags that fell just short.

On the other side of the road, who else but Congupna midfielder Bryden Squire, after finishing runner-up in the O’Dwyer Medal, was judged best-on-ground and best in finals, with a star supporting cast that included Jack Norman, Schaper, Jimmy Boyer, and Sam Slavich.

The club’s ninth senior premiership came on the back of Congupna’s reserves’ triumph, believed to be the first instance senior footy double since the early 1990s.

“Indescribable,” Bingham said.

“I think it's going to be a pretty long couple of weeks celebrating and it hasn't happened for a long time.

“We've spoken about it. We didn't think it would be possible, but it's going to be bloody sweet, and we're going to dance into the night pretty long and hard.”

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