In 2011, the Nambucca Valley Lions were dubbed the 'giant killers' by local media after slaying the premiership-defending Sawtell side in the first round of the North Coast AFL season.
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Fast forward one year and the Lions shocked again by suddenly exiting the comp.
Some senior Lions were sainted, choosing to run for Sawtell. But for many, it was the beginning of an eight-year wander through the wilderness.
It's somehow fitting, in a year that's been pockmarked by so much change, that the pride of the Nambucca Valley is preparing to go on the prowl once again.
Interest in AFL within the Nambucca Valley has been growing rapidly since the formation of the junior club in 2017, which has already chalked up a couple of premierships. But the combined junior and senior club will go to a whole new level this season as the Lions play in Reserve Grade.
And a lot of the credit goes to local player Leif Stuart.
"Football is in my blood - it's all I've known," Leif said, whose uncle and cousin both played in the AFL.
He's run with Sawtell for the past five years, and won three premierships with the Saints.
But this year the stars aligned, and Leif knew it was time to get something going again on his home turf.
"I made the decision mostly for our juniors. If they want to continue, they would have to go up to Coffs or Sawtell. And not everyone is able to do that," he said.
Despite a nearly decade-long drought, Leif found it surprisingly easy to get the band back together.
"There were still some players around from when we folded eight years ago that were keen. And some retired players have come out of the woodwork," he said.
Plus some local rugby league stars have crossed the bench to have a kick for the Lions - the Sea Eagles' Andrew and Jacob Welsh, and Joe Mckay.
"They're actually really good. I was surprised by their kicking and how quickly they picked it up," Leif said.
The senior Lions now form a squad of over 20 players.
"So we're doing pretty well. And COVID didn't seem to affect us - everyone was really keen to continue," Leif said.
With the inaugural match this Saturday against the Northern Beaches Blues, Leif is upbeat about his team's chances in the five-club competition: "Obviously we're mostly here to have a bit of fun, but for Reserve Grade I'm surprised at the skill level and I'm excited about the season to come. I definitely think we've got a chance of making the Finals Series."
The Nambucca Valley Lions are now the second side in two years to have reentered the senior competition, after the Northern Beaches Blues' successful reboot last year.
North Coast AFL Community Football Manager Paul Taylor said that the ongoing growth is extremely pleasing.
"Junior footy has been in a sharp growth phase across the region for the past five years. This growth is now having a positive impact on the number of people wanting to play senior footy. The overall growth is a result of much sustained hard work from volunteer club administrators and coaches across the region," he said.
The Lions play their inaugural match in Woopi at Centennial Park from 1.20pm. Their season will comprise 11 rounds of home and away footy, followed by a revamped Finals Series where the winners of two Semi Finals will progress straight to the Grand Final set down for Saturday, October 10.
The junior Lions' season also kicks off this weekend, on Sunday at the EJ Biffin oval.
