After more than a thousand days in exile, the Hawks are relieved to be finally flying home.
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On Saturday North Wangaratta Football Netball Club will host the first game at its own ground since May 2016 when Environment Protection Authority Victoria detected lead contamination in the soil.
During the subsequent investigation, lead removal and oval remediation - a process beset by delays and setbacks - the players and supporters have been sporting nomads, moving between different venues.
"Some clubs I don't think would have survived, it is a credit to them," North Wangaratta president Tim Hogan said.
Senior netball coach Bianca Ely said the core group of volunteers supported each other to ensure the Hawks' future.
"We were all, 'We're not going to fold, this has been too much hard work, we're not going to let it go'," she said.
Mr Hogan said flood damage last December that undid recent clubroom renovations was "almost the straw that broke the horse's back".
"It was tough times," he admitted. "But once again everyone just stuck together and pushed through."
Sponsorship, donations and voluntary work enabled those repairs and now the oval too is "looking fantastic".
"We'll find out this Thursday when we train on it for the first time," the president said. "There's an exciting feeling around the club to finally get back out there after three years. I know it took a while, but I'm just glad that it's all over now and hopefully it's in the past and we can look to a successful and ongoing future."
Wangaratta mayor Dean Rees said the necessary upgrade had made the oval among the best in the Ovens and King League.
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"I think it will build the football club and the netball club out there, to have greater numbers and hopefully they can put the score on the board as well," he said.
Mrs Ely said all the players were keen to start the season and aimed for a win.
"But if not, that's OK too, at least we're back at home," the coach said.
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