The Bombers’ flag – their first in 48 years – was one “from out of the blue”.

A pre-season littered with issues, namely low numbers, was the unlikely foundation for success.

Cobden, under new coach Sean Lever, worked hard to get former Bombers back to the club.

Wayne Walsh signed on as an assistant coach and Stephen Hammond and Wayne Robertson returned from Ballarat.

Full-forward Daniel Beard, who booted 10 goals in the grand final drubbing of Port Fairy, said the Bombers’ revival added weight to their achievement.

“There was not many at training, probably 12 to 15 the first few nights, and we had a new coach from Geelong, Sean Lever,” he said.

“It was dire straits; panic stations.”

Beard said Cobden was shocked to win its opening game against Terang and was taught a lesson by Koroit the following week.

But the belief from the first match proved an inspiration.

They went on to post a 13-5 record, defeating Port Fairy in a low-scoring qualifying final and edging out Warrnambool in the second semi-final.

They were an unstoppable force in the grand final, beating the Seagulls 28.10 (178) to 13.12 (90) at Reid Oval.

Wayne Walsh, who played alongside his brothers Leigh and Chris in the ‘97 flag, said the Bombers’ forward thinking was a catalyst for their success.

“The game plan, Sean broke it open with a running style which the Hampden league hadn’t adapted to at that time,” he said. 

“We’d switch play. Once we were on a roll, teams didn’t know how to combat that.”

Walsh, whose son Sam is in the AFL Academy and considered a 2018 draft prospect, said the Bombers’ potent forward line also caught opposition defences out.

“I think Beardy kicked 70 or 80 goals and we had three or four players kick 30 to 40 goals,” he said.

Cobden, which has also won flags in 1930, 1933, 1948, 1947, 1949 and 1998, is assured its first finals spot in five years.

Beard believes the belief around the club now, with first-year coach Levi Dare and football director Robertson at the helm, is similar to that of the 1997 crop.

“Hopefully (on Saturday) they’ll see what the local blokes did 20 years ago and see it’s definitely possible,” he said.