That victory - in an elimination final held at Quantong - was also the last time the standalone Natimuk won a senior football final.

On Saturday, riding the momentum of defeating Kalkee, the Rams are a red-hot chance to end another drought and win their first final in 22 years against Jeparit-Rainbow.

Rams' stalwart Don Hartigan said it had been a dour period for the club since their last finals win.

"We've had some low times since 1997," he said.

"I was president in 2004 and 2005, and we were struggling to get a coach, our facilities were very ordinary, the ground needed repairing - we were probably right at rock bottom there."

Hartigan said there were two key moments that helped change the fortunes of the club. The first was a Simon Mentz documentary winning a Footy Show competition and securing the club $20,000.

The next was a Triple J concert held in Natimuk that gave the club a serous financial boost.

"We were able to get some new change-rooms, new facilities; things started happening," Hartigan said.

"And we've gotten stronger and stronger in the last couple of years since we got Sam Anson as a coach."

Anson, a former junior player at Natmuk, returned in 2017 and helped revitalise the senior football side.

In his first season as coach, the club made finals for the first time in 20 years, and came incredibly close to breaking the finals drought in the last two seasons, losing both elimination finals by a combined margin of 21 points.

Anson said it was time to break the drought.

"It was good just to make finals the first year, then second year to finish in the same spot was a bit deflating, because I thought we were a lot better side," Anson said.

"We played Jeparit-Rainbow last year as well, so it's definitely in the back of our minds this year."

Hartigan said it would be a special victory.

"It's been a long road. We were down for about 20 years," he said.

"We've been fortunate with some really loyal supporters and members over the years, because the town wouldn't be the same without a football-netball club.

"It would be bloody good to see them win this weekend."

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