Article: Nathanael Merchant
Photo: Andrew McLean

Their road to the 2020 NPL2 Grand Final has led them to travel four hours every second weekend and relocate their home games to Cootamundra, but Yoogali will tell you that every kilometre they have traveled this season has been worth it. 

After NSW Health updated its COVID-19 guidelines for community sport in August, Capital Football was forced to find an alternative venue for Yoogali so they could remain in the competition. Yoogali coach Luke Santolin said his side used the extra challenge of playing away from home each week as motivation. 

"Our location has always posed issues for us but we embrace the challenges and almost use it as a bit of motivation," Santolin said. "We are the only club that has to travel hours to get on the field, so every time we get on the pitch, we are not going to waste it. 

"Before the season began, we wanted to seize an opportunity that our club has been waiting for for the best part of a decade.

"We wanted to test ourselves in a stronger competition, so our first goal was to be competitive and then after the third or fourth game, we are allowed ourselves to set bigger goals which was to play in the Grand Final and hopefully win it." 

After their intense 3-2 extra-time victory against Canberra White Eagles, Yoogali is looking to go into the Grand Final against Wagga City Wanderers with the momentum they have carried with them the whole year and capping off their first season with the trophy in hand.

Despite defeating the Wanderers 3-1 four weeks ago, Santolin said his side can not afford to underestimate their opposition. 

“The first thing is whatever you think about the opposition in regular season matches, it really means nothing," he said.  “You have got to be prepared for an entirely different beast and certainly a different occasion. It is about managing your own emotions and your own performance.”

With a four hour trip to Deakin Stadium and being the new kids on the block, Santolin said his side is feeling the pressure of their first NPL2 Grand Final but they will not let the moment get the better of them. 

“We are loving the thought of playing at Deakin Stadium," he said. "It’s going to be an experience one way or another and we’re just trusting that we're going to be able to manage the occasion and come out with the trophy.”

Yoogali has been lead by the league's two top goal scorers, Danny Roche and Mitch Bagiante, who have scored 20 goals between them this season. Santolin expects them to have a similar impact on Sunday afternoon. 

"Their goals are a production of unselfish play," he said. “Our two top goal scorers would also be right up there with our two top assists as well.  Both of them have benefited from a selfless mindset within the team."