For 13 seasons, the Trojans made a habit of saving their best until last.
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In the summer of 2019-20, that long-time approach cost the A-grade powerhouse its 14h consecutive premiership as a forced closure to the competition saw the league-leading O-Town Royals awarded the premiership, a decision that Trojans' skipper Ben Keegan is more than content with.
"We absolutely respect the association's decision to award them the premiership based on where the table was at the time of the cut-off," Keegan said.
"It awards consistency throughout the season and O-Town Royals were a great addition to the competition.
"It was refreshing to have a new team and we congratulate them on their maiden A-grade title."
Regardless of what competition you play in, It takes a hell of a roster to put together a run like what the Trojans produced and Keegan said a number of extremely talented players have donned the maroon and gold over the years.
"There's a couple of us who have been involved in all of the competition wins," he said.
"Mitchell Selwood, Jay Cole, Kobe Mansell, Stu Middleton and Daniel Aglands have all been a big part of most of the premierships."
While the team's M.O. has always been to click into gear when the whips are cracking, Keegan said they had no choice but to aim for that this season as the playing group was looking very skinny at the beginning of summer.
"We only had three players at one point, there," he said.
"We've been notorious for having average form during the season but we were running particularly low on numbers at the start of this year.
"Unfortunately we didn't get the chance to do that this season and continue our streak."
The target now for Keegan and all of Orange basketball is to return to some form of playing rhythm which will be tough given the indoor nature of the sport.
"We're all looking to get back to some normality with our sport and basketball is up there with one of them," he said.
"It's going to be tough given indoor facilities are closed and we'll be dragging the chain a little bit there while other sports like league and netball will be able to get back into competition.
"Everyone will be more than ready and willing once the restrictions ease a bit more."
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