Coach Jason Konjarski wants to bottle it - the buzz around Broadmeadow Magic after scraping into finals then beating third-placed Lake Macquarie on penalties in an epic NPLW Northern NSW elimination final on Sunday night.
Now, last year's wooden spooners are just one win away from an unlikely grand final appearance.
"At the moment, I can't explain the vibe around the group," Konjarski told the Newcastle Herald on Monday.
"I'd love to bottle it up and be able to sell it because it'd be worth millions, just the togetherness of all the girls and how everything is going at the moment.
"It feels as close to perfect as perfect can be. We are on that bit of a fairytale run, but it's just down to the work and the commitment from these ladies. Everything I'm asking, they're just doing it.
"I can't fault any of them, and it's so pleasing to be in this position compared to what we were doing last year."
Until last year, Magic had not missed a finals series since returning to Northern NSW Football's top-flight competition in 2020.
They captured the premiership-championship double in 2023 but the club began a rebuild under Konjarski last year after a mass exodus of players following the 2024 season.
They won just one game in 2025 and had another high turnover of players this year.
It took until the final round to sneak into fourth place after just five wins, four draws and nine losses in 18 outings.
But Magic have been building steadily since making the State Cup final in early July.
And, they will be riding high after Sunday night's 1-1 (5-4) win over Lake Macquarie at Macquarie Field.
Magic trailed for an incredible 95 minutes before American Wimberley Wright produced a classy and composed outside-of-the-foot volley to send the game into extra time.
Larissa Ryan had given Lake Macquarie a 1-0 advantage from the penalty spot in the third minute after a controversial handball ruling in Magic's 18-yard box.
But in the eighth and final minute of stoppage time, Wright struck.
The clinical finish amid a sea of Lakes players came after the 24-year-old Texan had been upended by Lake Macquarie's Holly Vitnell in the first minute of additional time.
"She got poleaxed not long before that goal," Konjarski said.
"Unfortunately, the other girl got stretchered off from that tackle. But Wimberley was down. Her neck was sore, her back was sore. She got absolutely crunched, and then, to do that a few minutes later was massive.
"That's just the type of player she is. We can just count on her in the big moments to do something, and she just continues to do that for us.
"But as much as it's her moment scoring that goal, to get this far is obviously a team effort."
The score remained locked at 1-1 after 30 minutes of extra time. It took six penalty kicks each to decide a winner.
"There was no plan at all for that sixth one," Konjarski said.
"We read out the first five and they all looked at us when it was the sixth penalty, and we were looking at each other on the sideline and didn't know either.
"Cambo [Madalyn Campbell] said, 'I'll do it', and she walked up and absolutely slotted her penalty, which was awesome."
Lake Macquarie's sixth attempt sailed over the crossbar.
Konjarski said the group would embrace the week and the moment as they looked to another big challenge against high-flying New Lambton in the preliminary final at Alder Park on Saturday (4.30pm).
There is no pressure on Magic, who finished the season on 19 points and did not beat any of the teams above them.
New Lambton, on the other hand, amassed 46 points to be second behind premiers Maitland (49).
Their only losses were to the Magpies, who booked a second successive grand final appearance with a clinical 5-1 rout of the Golden Eagles in the qualifying final at Cooks Square Park on Saturday.
New Lambton's experienced team include twice-capped Matilda and the competition's leading scorer Tara Andrews plus Newcastle Jets players Cassidy Davis and Lauren Allan.
"New Lambton is obviously a big challenge, but we've been rising to those challenges of late and I'm really keen to see how the girls apply themselves in that game," Konjarski said.
"We're still going to try and play our game, and then we're just going to have to be a bit more switched on defensively.
"They've got strike all over the field and it'll be cool to see if this fairytale can continue again for another week, which would be very unexpected.
"But it's all down to the girls and their hard work. I can't praise them enough, every single one of them."
Wright is one of four Americans in the team, along with Magic captain Megan Janikowski, forward Ava Bjorkman-Tracey and defender Lillie Young.
They are all quality but Konjarski has also handed first-grade debuts this year to several rising talents, who are holding their own.
Most of his squad is already locked in for next year in good signs for the club's future.
The winner on Saturday will meet Maitland in the championship decider at Darling Street Oval on September 12.
