It's hard to imagine the brains trusts of Hopetoun and Beulah predicting such immediate success when the decision was made to move forward as the Southern Mallee Giants.
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Five seasons. Four grand finals. Three leagues. Two premierships.
Now, the Giants stand at the precipice of another historic moment.
A maiden Wimmera Football League premiership.
Giants coach Coleman Schache said the towns had rallied around his charges.
"The towns are excited and so they should be. There are a lot of volunteers from both Hopetoun and Beulah that do a lot of work behind the scenes," he said.
"It's good to give them a bit of a reward back and hopefully they can have a good day."
Giants coach Coleman Schache speaks on the eve of the grand final
Players in focus
The opposition
Minyip-Murtoa has been the league's pacesetters all season and will be looking to round off an undefeated season at the weekend.
Head to head
2019
Round 4: Southern Mallee Giants 9.9 (63) def by Minyip-Murtoa 11.8 (74)
Round 13: Southern Mallee Giants 10.6 (66) def by Minyip-Murtoa 8.19 (67)
Semi-final: Southern Mallee Giants 8.7 (55) def by Minyip-Murtoa 12.10 (82)
2018
Round 2: Southern Mallee Giants 10.10 (70) def by Minyip-Murtoa 13.7 (85)
Round 11: Southern Mallee Giants 12.10 (82) def Minyip-Murtoa 6.5 (41)
Southern Mallee Giants' history
After 120 years of impassioned contests Hopetoun and Beulah settled their differences for the betterment of football in the two towns.
Premiership history
Southern Mallee Giants: 2 - 2016, 2017 (Horsham District league)
Hopetoun: 24 - 1904, 1913, 1919, 1922, 1924, 1925, 1926, 1927, 1929, 1930, 1931, 1932, 1933 (Mallee Football Association), 1937, 1938, 1939, 1947, 1965, 1966, 1969, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1976 (Southern Mallee Football League)
Beulah: 21 - 1902, 1910 (Mallee Football Association), 1933, 1947, 1950, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1961, 1962, 1964, 1974, 1981, 1982, 1985 (Southern Mallee Football League), 2000, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2010 (Mallee Football League)
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