Myrtleford coach Jake Sharp has encouraged his players to lap up the attention as they chase the greatest winning streak in club history against Albury on Saturday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Saints have never won seven straight games since joining the league in 1950 and boast just the one premiership (1970).
They lead the competition after six rounds, but now face the three premiership fancies in Albury, Lavington and Wangaratta.
The perennial battlers are the feel-good story of 2019.
"The boys have felt a lot of pain over the last few years so any good that comes along, you've got to embrace it," Sharp said.
The boys have felt a lot of pain ... so any good that comes along, you've got to embrace it.
- Jake Sharp
"That's what you play footy for, you play footy for the wins and, ultimately, finals. We're quite aware that we're not near that point yet, but if you're not celebrating (the wins), what are you actually playing footy for?"
The first-year mentor's approach is a refreshing one, with some coaches preferring the 'softly softly' approach.
But when you're the smallest town in the O and M - with a population of around 3000, compared to Albury-Wodonga's 90,000 - and have played finals just once since the last grand final appearance in 2006, there's cause for celebration.
Naturally, the trick is to remain focused and there's been no bigger test in the last 10 years, and perhaps the league's 126-year history, than a hungry Albury.
The Tigers stunned premiership fancies Wangaratta by 19 points prior to the interleague bye and during their decade of domination, they've stared down and then toppled every rival.
Everyone is hoping Myrtleford is the next challenger, but it's a brutal assignment at home, particularly missing two of its best players in Sharp (injury) and co-captain Matt Dussin (overseas).
The premiers have regained ace Brayden O'Hara.
The former SANFL star has played just three games with a quad injury.
If the weather stays reasonable, it's possible a bumper crowd could attend.
- Receive our daily newsletter straight to your inbox each morning from The Border Mail. Sign up here