McAdam made the drive from Melbourne on Saturday morning to see the showdown against Charles Sturt University and, despite a close call for the Blues at the end, wasn't disappointed in a high-stakes game.

"It was (a finals atmosphere)... it was a final, because whoever won was making the finals, and they played like it," McAdam said.

"It was a bloody good game to watch. The standard was really good, I was impressed with the standard.

"And I thought it was going to be a draw there at one stage cause the Uni guys were coming right back, so credit to them. But Coly hung on. Yeah, it was a really good game."

Charlie McAdam had a brief stint at Coleambally a couple of years ago, travelling from Darwin, but has spent the full winter in the town this season and played a key role in the club's on-field revival. He was rapt to lock in their finals spot.

Gilbert said next week might be more difficult but hasn't ruled out getting to Maher Oval to see how the Blues fare against Temora.

"It's a Sunday so I might be working, I'll see what happens," he said.

Gilbert played 53 games with St Kilda and 58 with the Brisbane Bears in the 1990s and is now a prominent and respected broadcaster with NITV and Channel 7.

Saturday wasn't his first glimpse of the Blues.

"I went and saw them play in Coleambally about eight weeks ago, and it was against the same team (CSU)," he said.

"So it was a coincidence that I came back and see them again, but on their home turf."