Tara Murray
Woodend-Hesket has claimed its first Riddell District Netball League A-grade premiership.
After tasting defeat on the biggest stage 12 months earlier in their first grand final, the Hawks came back bigger and better this year.
They knocked off minor premiers Riddell in the second week of finals to win straight through to the grand final.
The Hawks would then face Riddell again in Sunday’s grand final at Romsey Park.
While the record books will show a 46-37 win in the end to the Hawks, it doesn’t tell how close the game really was.
It was low scoring early on with the defensives of both sides on top. Turnovers were made and shots missed.
Both teams made a number of changes throughout.
The Hawks got to a four goal lead in the last quarter but the Bombers weren’t done.
Both teams had chances in the dying minutes to win the game, but weren’t able to convert.
Scores were locked at 33-apiece at the end of four quarters, sending the game into overtime.
From there it was all the Hawks, leading by five goals after the first period of overtime. They kept the momentum going to seal the win.
For Hawks playing-coach Meg Grbac it was a pretty special moment that would take a while to sink in.
“We had a lot of belief that we could do it,” she said. “I think the last two weeks have been so difficult for so many people at the club.
“I’m glad that we could get over the line, not just for ourselves, but the whole Woodend-Hesket wide community.
“It means so much to be able to make them proud.”
Both coaches knew going into the game it was going to be a battle of the defences which it proved to be.
Grbac, one of the star defenders of the competition, said that the attackers of both ends were put under a lot of pressure.
“The shooters, they eventually found their groove and credit to every single person that stepped out on court,” she said.
“I used pretty much the whole squad today [Sunday]. I thought Tilly [Lethlan] was amazing when she came on, Charlee [Duff-Tytler] and Abbs [Gilmore] were equally as awesome when they stepped onto the court also.
“In all, super, super proud.”
While they have the premiership in their hands now, Grbac admits that they were lucky to come away with the win in the end.
She said nerves got the better of the side in the final quarter.
“The last two minutes of the game we were probably lucky they didn’t get another score on the board to be honest with you,” she said.
“I said to them when we went to the bench before extra time, ‘straight away learn from that mistake’ and we’re lucky it didn’t cost us.
“They came on the court in extra time brilliantly and really held composure when it mattered.”
Grbac said getting the first goal in overtime was important for the group and they were able to maintain the momentum from there.
Defender Ty Coppinger was awarded the medal for the player judged best on court.
“She’s absolutely insane,” she said. “We’re so lucky that as a netball club not only to have her and the quality of player she is on the court, but the person she is off the court.
“I thought Laura Carland was awesome today in attack and I thought Hayley Rogers in wing defence was awesome too.
“It was a whole team effort.”
Grbac also paid tribute to netball coordinator Kellie Duff and club co-president Anne-Louise Lindner for their work in getting the netball program to where it is today.
“I can not speak more highly of Kel and Anne-Louise and the work that they’ve done for the netball program,” she said.
“I was so lucky to come in three years ago, at such a good time. All the hard work that they’ve put in over the last eight to nine years, they are the ones that have got us here,
“First flag for the club ever in A-grade, it’s pretty amazing. It doesn’t happen in one season, it’s been building over time.
“I’m so lucky to be part of a netball program with both of them.”
