The AFL Canberra junior grand final days delivered booming goals, ribcage-rocking tackles and don't-argues that would make Dusty Martin proud.
On a picture perfect weekend in the capital, hundreds of kids from 11 to 17 years of age took to the hallowed ground at Phillip Oval vying for silverware.
After months of sacrificing weekends of blood, sweat and tears to get to the big dance, clubs finally had their shot at taking home a medal, and no-one wanted to fall at the final hurdle.
Thousands of fans, parents, volunteers and clubs attended to show their support, with carefully prepared colourful banners ready to be run through, and homemade signs to cheer their teams to victory.
And for the neutrals, who could be upset with a $3 sausage sizzle, happily delivered by Gungahlin Jets volunteers at the Phillip Oval canteen who should be given credit for a massive shift from 6am till the early evening on Saturday.
It was a weekend that had something for everyone, but what teams wanted more than anything was that premiership medal around their necks, standing atop the podium for the grand final winners presentation.
"After all the effort the teams put in all year, now they get to put it all on show in the grand final in front of the clubs, family and friends that support them," AFL Canberra manager Steve Mahar said.
"It's a really fantastic weekend.
"We've grown about 9 per cent on player from this time last year, across all our competitions, which is a real positive."
Among the crowd were GWS Giants scouts, keeping a keen eye on potential future AFL stars, with many players from the Canberra region recruited to the Giants Academy.
One such academy product was Tuggeranong Valley junior Aaliyah Aitken, who starred in the under-14 mixed grand final as a towering ruckwoman more than holding her own against male competition, even though Ainslie Tricolours were ultimately crowned premiers.
From mixed grades, to boys and girls-only competitions, no-one was going to hold back these talented juniors from putting their best performances on display.
Marist College and Eastlake were the big winners on Saturday, with each club winning two grades of junior grand finals, and Ainslie claimed the under-14 mixed competition decider.
On Sunday, Tuggeranong Valley claimed the under-12 girls and under-16 girls grand finals, but the under-14s narrowly fell to Eastlake.
AFL Canberra junior grand finals results:
Saturday
Under 13 mixed - Marist College 8.12 (60) bt Ainslie Tricolours 2.5 (17)
Under 14 mixed - Ainslie Tricolours 7.6 (48) bt Tuggeranong Valley 6.0 (36)
Under 12 mixed - Marist College 6.5 (41) bt Eastlake Demons 2.6 (18)
Under 15 boys - Eastlake Demons 10.10 (70) bt Gungahlin Jets 9.6 (60)
Under 17 boys - Eastlake Demons 11.8 (74) bt Queanbeyan Tigers 5.7 (37)
Sunday
Under 12 girls - Tuggeranong Valley 9.15 (69) bt Eastlake Demons 0.0 (0)
Under 14 girls - Eastlake Demons 5.0 (30) bt Tuggeranong Valley 3.6 (24)
Under 16 girls - Tuggeranong Valley 6.9 (45) bt Queanbeyan Tigers 3.2 (20)
