Despite being a consistently strong side in the Horsham District league, the Demons kept falling at the final hurdle, losing five consecutive finals against the more experienced Natimuk United.

"It would be like we just crumbled in finals," Laharum co-coach Erin Mellington said.

"We didn't know what the reason was - we thought maybe Natimuk United were just too good.

"But we decided that we're physically just as good, just mentally, we were frazzled."

Mellington said it came to a boiling point after the Demons lost their first game of 2019 - a two-goal loss to Natimuk United in round 11.

"After the Natimuk game, Caito (co-coach Caitlin Story) and I had discussions and we decided we needed more. We needed something else," Mellington said.

"Previously I had spoken to the coach of Koroit, and she said she had her team hypnotised.

"It was a bit strange, but I mentioned that maybe we should try something like that, or just try something. We needed something more."

Rather than hypnosis, Laharum worked with Horsham yoga instructor Aaron Schultz, who taught the side the importance of mindfulness, meditation and living in the present.

Mr Schultz said the demons of past failures were clearly weighing on the side.

"They obviously had lost the last couple of finals quite closely, and I think it was essentially due to anxiety," Mr Schultz said.

"Just being caught up in what might happen rather than being in the moment, being present in what they're doing, and letting the result take care of itself.

"Sports people fall into the trap of anticipating what might happen, rather than observing what's going on in the present.

"They needed just to not think too much. Just calm down, and take things moment by moment."

Mellington admitted the side were initially hesitant.

"I'm not going to lie, the first session we were just like, 'this is weird'. We were giggling, we weren't really sure of it," Mellington said.

"We were like, 'will this actually work?'"

But the side persisted, with group sessions and individual daily meditation.

"Aaron explained that some of the best athletes in the world do it, like (Australian test cricket captain) Tim Paine and (AFL footballer) Dustin Martin," Mellington said.

"So we stuck with it, and it worked. I honestly think it made such a difference."

For a second consecutive season, Laharum made the grand final and faced familiar foe Natimuk United.

The Demons started slowly, and trailed by 10 goals early in the game.

Mellington said what they had learned with Mr Schultz came into mind.

"Our quote all year was, 'what's next?' Not, 'I shouldn't have done that', or, 'we're in front, we could win'," Mellington said.

"I did catch myself when we were 10 goals down, I was like, 'we've done it again. How is this possible? What are we doing wrong? Why does this keep happening?'

"But somehow we did it. We just went goal by goal and we came back, and I think it was this mindfulness. We just didn't give up."

Even as the match entered extra time, Mellington said the memo was to simply stay calm.

Mellington said the performance of her co-coach in the victory exemplified the program's success.

"Look at Caito and how well she shot in the grand final," Mellington said.

"I've never seen her so cool, calm and collected. Compare that to last year.

"I think it changed us around the club as well. It's been a calmer vibe all year. Everyone is just chill.

"I look back now and I think, 'that is so not like me'. But here I am with a premiership medal."

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