WHO were the grand final winners?

We were. After months of debate over whether the venue would be up to scratch for this year's football and netball deciders, then a league decision to pass on it, then another decision reversing that, then a Mildura Council scramble to get what is still a construction site ready for a major event, the Mildura Sporting Precinct was brilliant.

And the groans of complainers were drowned out by the cheers of an appreciative crowd of more than 5000 people.

The 'vibe' at the MSP on the historic first grand final day at the South Mildura complex was amazing and comments such as "they've done a bloody good job with this" were commonplace.

The punters took to the hastily constructed spectator hill at the southern end as if it had always been there and they had favourite spots to secure.

The mood remained festive even when the beer ran out in the last quarter.

The smaller hill on the outer side had more of a family picnic feel, while the lawn in front of the indoor stadium on the other wing was filled with devoted club supporters and their colours.

Sporting clubs who grabbed catering opportunities must have done a booming trade and the MSP's tenant, South Mildura, deserves special mention for not only cooking up who knows many steaks, sausages and burgers, but for making everyone downwind absolutely ravenous.

Inside, those who entered the MSP experienced a mild inconvenience as they detoured around the constantly long line at the cafe, but then were often heard marvelling at the huge crowds around the netball courts and the booming cheers of that audience.

There had been much argument over netball seating and it is true that many people ended up sitting on the floor, but that may have only been because the games were even more popular than anticipated.

As on any grand final day anywhere, players and supporters of the runners-up teams would have left the MSP a bit downhearted, but almost everyone else finished the day with a smile on their face.

And if anyone is happier in the district this week than the premiership players and their fans, it must be the council's members and staff and the SFNL hierarchy, who between them arrived at the best possible result, a win for Sunraysia.