The last time Nambucca Valley came up against the Bellingen Bulldogs, it was a demoralising experience for the Lions; with Bello 72 points ahead at half time, the mercy rule was applied and scoring was ceased.

"We were missing some valuable players that game, but they were the better team," coach Norm Devereaux said.

Two weeks later our kids faced off against the Northern Beaches Blues and had an absolute blinder - upping their confidence and turning around their season.

"We really came of age that game. The team really gelled, so I knew we were in with a chance," Norm said.

Even so, it was completely understandable that there were a few Nambucca knees knocking before Sunday's match at the C.eX Coffs International Stadium when they came face to face with the Bulldogs one more time.

To make matters worse, our Lions were playing 18 on ground from just 18 players, while the Doggies had four fresh subs.

To make up numbers with two players off on representative duties, Nambucca Valley had to step up Tully Pope, a talent from the younger age division.

And one of the pride's forward line - Rielly Laverty - was suffering a debilitating leg injury, but took the field regardless.

"The way he played, you never would have known he had an injury," Norm said. "He actually scored one of our goals."

The Lions started off tentatively, with the Doggies scoring the first two goals of the match.

"They were still trailing after the first half. At that point it's easy for a team to get themselves down and hang their heads. But to the credit of our young men and women - and I call them that because they've earned the title after their performance - they rose to the challenge and pulled out an incredible game of footy."

The talent was always there; the side boasts at least half a dozen kids who play representative sport, and three young stars - Toby Batten, Wilson Baade and William Devereaux - have been playing with the Sydney Swans Academy all year.

William definitely brought his A-game to hold the backline together, making sure history wasn't repeated and shutting down opportunity after opportunity for Bello's scorers.

Charlie the Jet (Charlize Jones) was also an absolute weapon: "She's quick as lightning and does not shy away from a tackle. The boys try to protect her but she doesn't need it - she outpaces them all," Norm said.

Things really started to pivot in the second half when young Tully Pope stood his ground against a very big Bulldog and came out with a free kick.

"The other kid charged at him and he didn't flinch. That was a huge turning point - when the other kids witnessed that bravery it really helped to lift them," Norm said.

The Lions took the lead in the third quarter, but it wasn't until the fourth that it was evident they could really win this.

"We asked them at three-quarter time to show us what they're made of and whether they really wanted this - and they did," Norm said.

Having said that, there were few nails left to bite in the supporters' stands, and things got more tense after a send-off left the Lions one-man down for ten minutes in the final quarter.

But our Under 13s weren't going down without a fight, and they rallied to put away two spectacular goals, in spite of it all.

Wilson Baade was the boot behind the first - he took his mark 30 metres out, and, with the composure of a soldier, sailed the kick through the goal posts from a tough 45 degree angle.

"It was a make-or-break moment. That meant the Bulldogs needed to score two goals to take the title from us," Norm said.

By the time the second goal went through, it was all but in the bag for our mighty Lions. At the sounding of the full time siren, the huge Nambucca Valley contingent was going wild. The Lions had pulled off the seemingly impossible and come away with the silverware, the final scoreboard reading 7.7(49)-4.8(32).

Norm said it was a credit to the dedicated efforts of the AFL North Coast Juniors Association that a league of this calibre has been built in rugby league heartland.

And he paid tribute to three standouts from the Bellingen side - Jai Bowd, Max Cracknell and Tyreke Whyman - who "made it hard" for the Lions all day.

"They're just good kids, as well as being good footballers and I hope they continue their football. I can see them going a long way with their careers," he said.

With five of the seven Nambucca Valley goals coming off the boot of Kaylan McGrath, it was only fitting he was awarded Best on Ground.

"But it takes a whole team to stand up and be counted for when you're playing a great team like Bellingen," Norm said.

"They just stepped up another level as a team - it blew me away. I really wish it had have been filmed to show young kids what a game of footy could be.

"It was very emotional for the Under 13s - to go from losing every week last season to premiers this year."

This is the second premiership cup from just three seasons of competition for the young Nambucca Valley club.

"It's easy for people to look at a team and their success and just see a premiership cup, but they don't see the behind-the-scenes efforts, the volunteers, the dedicated parents and the management who all work solidly in the background to build a successful club," Norm said.

With hopes of fielding an Under 15s side next year, it'll be fantastic to see what heights the Lions scale in 2020.

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