The last month has been tough for them. After successive 25-all draws, they were rolled by Walcha and then just snuck home against Inverell, before being thrashed by Pirates in the major semi-final.

“What I liked out there today was how we hung in there and hung in there and gave ourselves every opportunity,” Schwager said.

They expected a close battle and that's what they got, and but for a few centimetres it might have been the Bulls preparing for the grand final. 

But despite the close shave the Blue Boars looked a lot more like the side that until the second last game were on target for the minor premiership.

“We tried to play a bit differently,” Schwager said.

The strategy called for them to really work hard for each other, particularly the forwards.

“The forwards worked hard to get us that win,” Blue Boars coach Nick Lennon said.

“They really worked hard to get around the corner and be that support player.”

Schwager also noted that they “got in the game early”.

“Last week we let them (Pirates) get on top and it was hard to rein it in,” he said.

They led 15-10 at half-time and had the Bulls under a lot of pressure late in the first half. But that was quickly erased with the Bulls scoring inside the first couple of minutes to reclaim the lead.

“That was probably a little bit of a frustrating thing for us,” Schwager said.

They knew the Bulls would come our firing in the second half.

“We saw what they did to Walcha, and they did it to us,” he said.

“But I liked how we didn't panic and ground our way back.”

That was missing against Pirates.

The ledger is square at one apiece and a draw going in, and while they most recent encounter is one the Blue Boars would rather forget, they are there.

“You've got to get there,” Schwager said.

“Anything can happen on grand final day.”

“The key is starting well and matching it with their forwards, being physical.

“We can't afford to be passive.”