The last time Strathdale-Maristians missed the BDCA first XI finals John Howard was Prime Minister, the Brisbene Lions were the reigning premier in the AFL and current Suns players James Vlaeminck and Daniel Clohesy were attending kindergarten.
That was 2005 and this year the sun could be setting on Strathdale's stunning streak of 13-straight Bendigo District Cricket Association finals appearances.
After Saturday's loss to Huntly-North Epsom, the Suns are in fifth place on 36 points with two games remaining against Strathfieldsaye and White Hills.
They're one game behind fourth-placed Sandhurst and will need to win both of their matches and get help from other results to force their way into the top four.
An outright win over the Jets amd/or Demons would help their cause, but that is the last thing on skipper Ben DeAraugo's mind.
The Suns' star wants his side to get back to basics.
"We need to find a way to play good cricket for the full 170 overs of the match,'' DeAraugo said.
"We're playing well in patches, but we haven't been able to get any consistency for the full match."
Injuries haven't helped the Suns, particularly with their bowlers.
Star all-rounder Sam Johnston is sidelined at the moment because of a foot injury.
"It's still unknown as to Sam's prognosis,'' DeAraugo said.
"He's had some unoffical reports and he's going through the process of how bad his foot injury is.
"At this point we're planning to not have him for the foreseeable future and we need everyone to step up with bat and ball because he's such an important player for us.
"If you look at the game at the weekend, we really needed him with the bat and really needed him with the ball.
"We're doing what we can to help Sam get back, but there's also no point lamenting the fact that he's not there.
"We need to step up and try and get the results we need."
Third-placed Eaglehawk (43 points) plays the dangerous Kangaroo Flat and Sandhurst in the final two rounds, while the Dragons tackle second-placed Huntly-North Epsom and then the Borough.
Strathdale has an easier run home, but that's little comfort to DeAraugo.
"Strathfieldsaye and White Hills both have strong teams and they have strong players that can take the game away from you.
"We'll need to be 100 per cent on our game and not take either of them lightly.
"To win the games we need to concentrate on what we're doing."
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