Fitzroy Stars, an important part of Naarm's Aboriginal community, claimed a historic moment for the club with their first men's senior premiership in 35 years on Saturday.
The Stars responded from a loss in the first week of finals and lifted the cup over Laurimar 15.10 (100) to 7.5 (47) in Division 3.
Carlton and Adelaide legend Eddie Betts was named best on ground after he booted three majors on the day to help the side make amends for a loss in last year's ultimate contest.
It was an unparalleled year of success for the club, born out of the local Indigenous community over 50 years ago, and calling Sir Douglas Nicholls Oval next to the Aboriginal Advancement League in Thornbury their home.
All three senior football sides - the men's now premiers, reserves and women's team, reached the final game of the season in their division of the Northern Football Netball League.
Their thirds netball outfit took home the club's first premiership of the weekend with a three-goal win on Friday night - one of two teams to qualify for grand finals on the court.
It's the Stars top men's side's first flag since 1990, and a breakthrough campaign after 18 years in the NFNL, featuring teams around Naarm's north.
Under player coach and former 150 game AFL player Neville Jetta, they went 16-0 through a faultless home-and-away season before falling to Laurimar by five goals in the first week of finals.
A statement-making 12-goal win over Ivanhoe booked their spot to make amends in the preliminary final.
2024 best-and-fairest Allan Norris notched 200 games in the jumper on Saturday, becoming just the third player in the club's history to reach the milestone.
Speaking to National Indigenous Times ahead of their final training session, Stars life member Uncle Alan Brown said success on Saturday would stamp them as one of the leading clubs in the local competition.
He also spoke of their broader impact and status, away from the footy field and netball court.
"You know what the bigger thing is? When the kids and young teenagers come up and say, 'I can't wait till I play for this club'...they just want to be part of it," he said.
"They just want to wear the jumper. They want to share the experience. They see that we do, they get a sense of that unity, that sense of family, that sense of community."
Club veteran, previous coach and former Richmond Tiger, Lionel Proctor, 45, hung up the boots with the premiership win.
Stars men's reserves fell short in a heartbreaker, also against Laurimar, earlier in the day after ripping through the finals from fourth spot.
After making their first grand final, a third quarter surge quarter surge wasn't enough to reverse early advantage and deliver the women's side their maiden flag against Lower Plenty last month.
