Every player was "absolutely flying" on the pre-season training track, past performances were either a sign of things to come or a platform to launch into bigger and better results, and spirits were high ahead of what shaped as being another brilliant season across the region.
What happened after that has been well documented — with the coronavirus pandemic forcing sporting shutdowns throughout the winter months — as has what will happen next, with 2021 set to pop the cork of bottled-up excitement and usher in a landmark campaign for many clubs.
But what about until then?
Clubs have been supporting each other and their members in many ways, including trying to stay connected while physically apart.
One example was the recent “Discovering Resilience” session the Goulburn Valley League was able to provide in conjunction with The Resilience Project's Hugh van Cuylenburg.
Echuca football manager Simon Eishold was one of more than 300 participants in the session — along with his wife and children — and felt it was a great initiative from the GVL.
“I think it was really, really good that the league put it on for everyone to benefit from,” Eishold said.
“I think it was an excellent opportunity and I congratulate the league and sponsors that made it possible.
“I know Jo (GVL operations manager Jo Spencer) and all of them worked really hard to get us some games this year, but this has allowed us to stay connected despite the situation.”
The program delved into plenty of topics that are not usual dinner table conversations for many families or club members at football and netball grounds every Saturday — but in a way which fostered further discussion.
“From our point of view, as a family, we watched it and had an open discussion about it afterwards — the kids have been exposed to the program before,” Eishold said.
“I've referred to it since to some of our footballers to help them. I'm 50, I'm a father and a husband — I have a different perspective on things than blokes in their 20s and 30s, so it's really easy to say ‘here, go watch this and see what you think of it and what you can get out of it'.
“I've been listening to Hugh's podcast (The Imperfects) as well.
“It's an easy conversation to say, ‘hey, did you check this program out, did you listen to this podcast’ — because I'm not from a generation to just come out and ask ‘are you okay?'.”
The Murray Bombers — like all clubs in the region — have been making an effort to check in on all of their players and supporters throughout the pandemic as well.
“Every player, male or female, every club member, committee member and all of the supporters — everyone — are showing signs of missing something this year,” Eishold said.
“It's different for everyone, but for an older bloke like me, I'm missing making the trip down to Seymour or Shepparton and standing around having a few beers with blokes I might not have seen for a year or more and remembering the good old days.
“We as a footy club are trying very hard to ensure we have coverage, we have some of the senior playing group ringing players regularly, but irregularly, to check in, tap on the shoulder to ask ‘are you all right, mate?'.
“It's great to have that coming from within the playing group and not just from the coaches.”
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