Tara Murray
Woodend-Hesket’s legacy continues to grow in the Riddell District Netball League with back-to-back premierships.
Three and half years ago, the Hawks had never made an A-grade grand final.
Since then they’ve made three and won two premierships in what has become a special era for the club.
On Sunday, the grand final was a repeat of last year’s decider with the Hawks taking on Riddell.
The first time ended in extra time before a Hawks premiership.
This time round the Hawks had the answers every time the Bombers attacked to win 46-41.
Hawks star defender and coach Ty Coppinger said it was pretty surreal to go back-to-back.
“No, but yes at the same time,” she said if she could believe that they had gone back-to-back.
“I know that we’ve put in the hard work and we really worked all season. So we knew that we were in for a good shot, but it was just taking that one step today [Sunday].”
The Hawks set the game up in the first half.
They led by five goals at quarter time and then eight goals at half time. They looked strong defensively while able to convert in attack.
“We knew that we just had to come out and be really controlled,” Coppinger said.
“We knew we couldn’t win it in the first quarter, but we could certainly play our own game and be really controlled to set us up for the rest.”
With the Hawks on top, the Bombers rang the chances in the second quarter.
One was to bring on experienced goaler Meredith Ball to try and shut Coppinger out of the game.
Coppinger said it was a really good match up.
In the third quarter, the Bombers threw everything at the Hawks.
They got the margin back out to one goal before the Hawks settled.
It was then back out to four at three quarter time. It again blew out, with the Bombers then getting back two goals.
But each time the Hawks had the answers.
Coppinger said the work that they did during the season had held them in good stead.
“I think that’s what we’ve kind of worked towards all season,” she said.
“We knew that they would keep coming at us. So we knew that was quite a possibility to be in those situations and just trying to how do we combat that in those moments.”
Charlee Duff-Tytler shot 34 goals for the Hawks, while Abby Gilmore shot 12.
Coppinger’s sister Sam Coppinger was named best on court for her performance in the midcourt.
Coppinger said it’s always special to play with your sister.
“I think also coming back after having a baby is an amazing achievement to get back, but then she was amazing,” she said.
Sam Coppinger was one of two Hawks to play in their first A-grade premiership.
The other was Sarah Duff, who has come through the grades at the Hawks. Both Sam Coppinger and Sarah Duff played key minutes in the midcourt.
Coppinger said it’s nice for local girls like Duff to get their reward.
Duff-Tylter, Ty Coppinger, Hayley Rogers and Laura Carland have been part off three grand final teams. Duff was also part of the team in 2022.
Now with back-to-back premierships, the Hawks are set to celebrate for a few days to come.
Coppinger said it was nice to see what they’d achieved the past few years.
“Our netball program is just going from strength to strength,” she said. “That’s a credit to every player that has joined and is playing.
“Without them and them putting in the hard work, we wouldn’t achieve what we want. We are very happy as a club and proud of everything that the girls are putting out.”
In the other grades, Riddell won B-grade and under-19s, Macedon won C-grade and Gisborne Giants won D-grade.
