It’s not every day of the week all siblings from the one family are represented on grand final day.
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That will be the case in Saturday’s Ovens and Murray decider, with brothers Nick and Joe Richards to take the field for Wangaratta in the senior football, while their younger sister Olivia will contest the under 16s netball grand final at Lavington Oval.
“It’s a big day,” their father Rob said.
“We sort of had a similar situation last year when Olivia and Joe played Ovens and Murray on the Sunday and Nick played in the Murray Bushrangers’ grand final a week later at Etihad.
“It’s good to have it in the one location because there was a bit of tripping around last year.
“We’ve been fairly lucky this year because there hasn’t been too many clashes with the kids on the same days.
“Olivia sometimes misses out when we’ve had to travel down to Melbourne for the Bushies, but we’ve actually managed it alright this year.”
The former Wangaratta coach is ecstatic to see his beloved club return to the grand final.
“My father played in a premiership in 1961 and I was brought up down there, so we dragged the kids along when they were young,” Rob said.
“It’s hard enough to make them, let alone have your kids play in them.
“We always get up there early and just enjoy the day.”
Joe revealed he and Nick played in junior grand finals at under 14s and under 16s level, but knows this year’s clash will be a major step up.
“This one will be completely different, we’re expecting a few big bodies from Albury compared to the juniors, but I’m looking forward to it,” Joe said.
“It works out alright for mum and dad, which is good.”
Joe said he won’t be thinking about his rising star triumph earlier in the week and would swap it all for the premiership medal on Saturday.
Nick and Joe head out for the seniors’ decider against Albury at 2.30pm, while Olivia will contest the under 16s netball grand final against Yarrawonga at 9am.