Australia has had four different prime ministers since the last time a team other than the Purples won the Murray Football League premiership, but their record-breaking streak of five flags in a row could finally come to an end on Saturday.
Nathalia sits in seventh spot on the ladder, but with just two rounds left to play this season, its finals hopes are hanging on by a thread.
A Nathalia loss paired with a Deni Rams win over Numurkah would see the Purples mathematically eliminated from finals contention, missing out on the post-season for the first time since 2014.
Nathalia got off to a terrible start to the year, winning just one of its first seven games.
But a mid-season resurgence saw them win eight of their next nine to surge back into finals contention.
The two sides met back in round two with Moama claiming a massive 140-point win, but it is a result that means little based on Nathalia’s recent run of form.
But even if the Purples can cause an upset against the Pies, they will still face an uphill battle to climb into the top six. They will need to win their last two games and hope that Deni loses both its remaining clashes.
Coming up against a Nathalia side with their season on the line, Magpies coach Sam Sheldon said he was expecting the Purples to be at their best.
“They have done it for a long time, but they are going to be pretty desperate — they have to win to stay alive,” Sheldon said.
“They are leaving their run for finals probably later than they would have liked and injuries have played a part in that, but their best side on the day can do anything, we will be preparing for a good Nathalia, and we wouldn’t expect anything less.
“They have been in some good form in recent weeks. They are a different side now. If they have all their big boys in, they can do anything.”
Sheldon said his side would be embracing the big occasion, while also focusing on improving before the post-season.
“For us, it’s just about working on things before finals and getting better. It is a chance to improve and play a quality opposition, it should be good,” he said.
“It never hurts, the more games you can play like that, the better off you are going to be. It will be good to expose ourselves to that sort of pressure.
“We have had a big month of footy. We let ourselves down against Congupna so we will be looking to bounce back, it should be a good challenge.“
For Moama, a win would lock in its first finals appearance since 2017.
The Magpies have climbed up the ladder since being handed the wooded spoon in 2019, finishing eighth in 2021 and now sitting in fourth spot this season with two rounds left to play.
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