Longford's senior premiership drought may have lasted 30 years, but one suspects it can't last much longer.
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Top of the table across all three rungs in the NTFA's premier division, the Country Tigers appear as strong as they've ever been since their most recent flag in 1989.
The club will celebrate the 30-year reunion of that very premiership following its final roster game of the season next weekend.
Chairman Lee Brazendale, who played in the 1989 flag as a 19-year-old, recalled the 17.17 (119) to 9.11 (65) defeat of Rocherlea as the club's first success since 1958.
"I know it was a pretty tough physical game and we had a fairly young side at the time," Brazendale said.
"We were getting beaten at half-time I'm pretty sure - we were the underdogs and Rocherlea were definite favourites. I think from memory they'd only lost one game the whole year by about a point, and we came from behind and won."
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The title followed three tumultuous years for the club, which included a devastating grand final loss to Scottsdale in the final year of the 'old' NTFA, an unsuccessful year in the NTFL and a three-win season in the Northern amateurs competition.
"You can imagine after the club almost folding, two years later to win a premiership, even though it was in the amateurs, it meant a real lot to the club and the town," Brazendale said.
"It almost folded and then it turned into what we are today, and we're still playing in the same competition even though it's named the NTFA now."
Having made finals for the first time in six years last season, Longford's senior outfit looks destined to make a real dent on finals with just two losses to its name.
President David Blair credits the side's rise to a sustained period of stability with its playing list.
ELSEWHERE IN SPORT
"I think the biggest thing is we've had a culture of players staying around the club," Blair said.
"In the past we've lost quite a few of our young blokes, but currently we've got a lot of boys playing seconds and seniors that have come through our junior ranks.
"The nucleus of the senior group have been around for a while so I think that's the biggest key, and from our best to our worst player they're all treated the same."
Twenty of the 28-player squad from 1989 will attend the reunion, which extends the invite to all past players, officials and supporters.
"It'd be lovely to see some of the older people that have been around the club for a long time come back and celebrate 30 years," Blair said.
"It's been a long time between drinks and hopefully this year we can break that drought - it'd be nice to see the clubrooms full on Saturday."
BACK TO LONGFORD DAY
- What: NTFA premier division round 17, Longford v Hillwood
- When: Saturday, August 10, from 2pm
- Where: Longford Football Club