Their rise to the finals is all the more remarkable given the Bombers held last year’s wooden spoon, clinching the fifth spot at the expense of reigning premier LBU.
But with several key operators out for their clash against 2022 grand finalist Mount Pleasant, including midfield trio Clay McGregor, Caleb Hislop and Zach Hislop, as well as defenders Matt and Nathan McLellan, the Bombers found themselves immediately under siege.
It took Leitchville-Gunbower 27 minutes to find its first goal of the day as the Mounts booted the first four majors, with Billy Hawken breaking the deadlock.
However, the Mounts’ early charge laid the platform for the rest of the day, despite patches of Bomber brilliance.
The Bombers ramped up the pressure in the second quarter as Nick Horman claimed their second goal of the day early, but the efforts of William Wallace and ruckman Chris Downs ensured Mount Pleasant maintained a 34-point advantage.
A Bryce Barnstable snap on goal and another opportune goal to Horman helped trim the lead to 28 midway through the second term, with Noah Hore and Austin Windridge leading the way.
Mount Pleasant’s 30-point lead at the main break in warm conditions made for an arm-wrestle third term, but a pair of goals to Hawken bookended a pressure-filled premiership quarter from Leitchville-Gunbower, who roared back to within 22 points.
Lachlan Sverns handed the Bombers the perfect start to the fourth quarter with a running goal within the first 30 seconds, giving travelling supporters a glimmer of hope.
But that glimmer was swiftly extinguished with a Zebb Murrell hanger and goal followed by a Caelen Smith major, quickly icing the game for Mount Pleasant and bringing a close to the Bombers’ fairytale resurgence in the HDFL with a final score of 11.18 (84) to 9.4 (58)
The Mounts will face North Bendigo this week, while Leitchville-Gunbower will turn its eye to 2024, with coach Shannon Keam and nine members of the senior squad already putting pen to paper.
