Saturday saw the Kyabram District League and Picola District Football Netball League host their day of days, with bumper crowds flowing through the gates to enjoy a grand final spectacle.
While final figures haven’t yet been nailed down, around 5,500 people attended Mooroopna Recreation Reserve for the KDL grand final for a gate taking of approximately $47,000, according to league president Peter Cordy,
“It’s hard to count with all the children that come in, and obviously you’ve got volunteers from Mooroopna Football Club and then invited guests and such,” he said.
“Working on approximate figures, it would be around that 5,500 mark.
“(The taking) was very similar to last year, around the $47,000 mark.
“We haven’t quite finalised everything, but it’ll float somewhere around there.”
The KDL grand final was a smash hit by all accounts, and Cordy thanked his staff for helping to organise a successful event.
However, it was the action on the field and court that truly capped it off.
“There were some nail-biting games over at netball; one game nearly went into extra time, there was a goal just prior to the final siren,” Cordy said.
“The under-15s had two teams in the grand final that were first-year teams in our competition, so that was fantastic for us as well.
“The football side of it, Lancaster and Murch-Toolamba have got a good bit of a rivalry going on now and another nail-biter for them.
“To consider Murch-Toolamba won the second semi with a kick after the siren to get into the grand final and then for Lancaster to get so close on Saturday was really fantastic as well.
“For us as a league, it’s more about communities and people, and to see all the children and families there enjoying it - that’s what really gives myself a buzz.”
Meanwhile, the PDFNL grand final at Deniliquin Memorial Park pulled in similarly strong numbers.
League operations manager Shane Railton said Saturday’s crowd total was “close to 5000 people” while reporting gate takings were “in the high $40,000s”.
And similar to Cordy, the aspect that really impressed Railton was the nature of the day itself.
“Just amazing; there was no animosity amongst the crowd, it was all in good fun,” he said.
“The overwhelming feeling I had from the day was that everyone was going ‘how good is this?’.
“People were saying it before the games of footy or netball that they participated in; Katamatite were that stoked about the actual day before they’d even played, it was unbelievable, and likewise people from Waaia.
“Irrespective of the result, it was always going to be a great day but the game itself just took it to another level.”
Railton noted the PDFNL has not raised its gate prices since he began his role in late 2016, with crowds doubling in the near-decade that has passed.
Additionally, all finals gates bar two - due to bad weather - improved on their corresponding takings from 2024, which was a then-record for the league.
Finally, Railton praised Deniliquin Rovers Football Netball Club for its assistance in putting on a memorable grand final day up north.
