For the small farming community of Nathalia, that devastation did turn to glory as the Purples defeated Finley by 13 points in the Murray Football League grand final at Tocumwal on Saturday.

Nathalia established a six-point lead at quarter-time, but it was in the second stanza it stamped its authority.

Clearly winning at the centre bounces and stoppages, the Purples were too big and strong, adding six goals to two to build a 33-point lead at half-time.

That margin blew out to 55 points 13 minutes into the third quarter before Finley produced the run that many had come to expect as it swarmed all over its opponent, kicking 9.7 to 3.3.

But the horse had bolted, giving Nathalia its fifth  premiership in eight years.

Nathalia coach Adam Quarrell, who along with Nathan Gemmill and captain Ross Garner, has played in all of those premierships, announced his playing days were over.

Quarrell and other players had made a commitment to come back after finding the club with the wooden spoon after four premierships and, along with the devastation of the floods, this win was special.

"In 2010 we played Finley and got the wooden spoon," he said.

"It's been a two-year plan to blood some of our younger blokes and get some experience back to the club with some of the players who had left after the 2008 flag.

"The flood put a spanner in our works with no ground to train on and we didn't play on our ground until round 7.

"It's been a challenge and the boys have lifted and no more so than today in the  final quarter."

Corowa-Rutherglen ruckman David Lucas, who has flown in from Western Australia for the past seven games, got Nathalia off to a flying start.

Lucas' domination allowed onballers Gemmill, Nathan Ryan and Chris Atkins plenty of easy clearances.

Full-forward and VCFL medallist Jason Limbrick was a sensational target with an eight-goal haul.

Finley started nervously and, after the Purples had three quick goals, it found its run with Karmen Ogilvie, Jordan Daniel, Michael Littlejohn and Robb Jewell.

Nathalia took complete control in the second term.

Tom Sheldon showed why he was voted player of the finals as he led a mean bunch of defenders -- Ian Fulton, David Daniel, Michael Croxford and Garner -- who let little through.

When Finley captain Matt Jackson was sent from the ground for striking Gemmill at the 28-minute mark, the Cats were one man down.

But it was the return of Jackson that evened things up as the Cats suddenly found their run.

Onballer and the smallest man of the field Ned Morrison, the grandson of the legendary Lou Richards, played tallest with six goals in a lone hand up forward.

Jewell, James Kennedy, Tim Robertson, Ollie Ford and Paul Massingham also lifted as Finley mounted a serious challenge.

The Cats closed to within two kicks before Limbrick's eighth goal ended that run.

"The second quarter hurt us," retiring Finley coach Rob Daniel said.

"We identified their talls and, if they were to take marks we were in trouble and today they just took too many marks."