Rees played in Central Highlands Football League senior premierships during 2010 and 2013 with Hepburn before work took him away from the region.

He joined Wimmera league club Horsham Saints, with his three-year stint returning a grand final defeat and back-to-back flags.

Then came his decision to return to Hepburn.

Rees was approached by Burras coach Jason Olver and asked to pull on the red and blue once again. And he obliged.

The versatile half back has been an integral part of the Burras’ 15-match winning streak this year, with a best-on-ground display in the preliminary final perhaps his standout game of the year.

Rees said he had planned on playing football in hometown Bendigo during 2017, but had decided the travel to and from the spa country would be worth it.

“It’s sort of easier to transition into a club where you know people as opposed to me joining a club in Bendigo where I didn’t really know anyone,” he said.

“And just being a part of that club with success is always good, knowing what I was going to get with Hepburn as opposed to a club where I didn’t really know what their expectations were and stuff like that.

“I sort of knew what I was going to get with Hepburn. I knew they’d be challenging so that’s pretty important as well.”

Rees’ expectations about Hepburn’s prospects in 2017 were right, with the Burras set to play in the biggest game of the year once again.

And his recent golden run doesn’t mean he is any less desperate for victory on Saturday against Beaufort.

“That hunger never dies with the want to keep winning them,” he said.

“I’ve experienced one loss in a grand final before and that’s definitely not something I want to go through again. I’m very hungry to get the job done again for sure.”

Rees hoped the team’s experience in winning grand finals would be an advantage against a side that is without a player that has lifted the CHFL senior premiership cup.