Border Mail | AFTER several failed attempts to pinch the Ovens and Murray grand final back from Lavington, Wangaratta has surrendered in the grand final war.
The Magpies won’t make a bid for the 2015 decider, virtually locking it into Lavington Sportsground for the 21st straight year.
The O and M can still put it out to tender, but that’s unlikely, with expressions of interest closing on Wednesday.
The Magpies haven’t given up hope of the showpiece returning to the Norm Minns Oval in coming years, but president Col McClounan admitted it was frustrating to regularly miss out.
“We’re not going to apply for it this year,” McClounan said.
“It doesn’t make a good deal of sense given the track record the last couple of years.
“Wang and Rovers aren’t going to be there and Yarra is an outside chance.
“There’s no doubt it’s a good enough venue, and we can handle the crowd.
“(But) it’s got to probably be a Wang team, or one from outside the Border (playing in the grand final).”
The Norm Minns Oval hosted AFL pre-season games in 2014 and 2013, but it hasn’t hosted the O and M grand final since 1994.
That year, the Rovers defeated Wodonga by 59 points.
All 10 clubs have put in submissions to host a final in 2015, with the Magpies hoping for one in the first, or second week.
And they haven’t given up on hosting the first ever night final, either.
“We are (still) open to a night final,” McClounan said.
“We’re not sure where other clubs are at with it.
“I think it would be fantastic to give it a try and I think there’s the potential to do something different.”
Lavington president Peter Barwick said it would be a “nice problem to have” if his club played off in the grand final on home soil.
The Panthers haven’t made the grand final since 2008 – their last premiership was 2005 – but sit second on the ladder and shape as the only real threat to Albury.
Finals venues will likely be announced in the next fortnight to give clubs enough time to prepare.
The grand final will be held on Sunday, September 27.