The hurt of last year’s grand final loss will help spur on Riddell in Sunday’s Riddell District Netball League grand final.
After being hot favourites last year, the Bombers were no match for Melton Centrals and went down by 16 goals.
Riddell’s opponents on Sunday will be Macedon, and the Bombers will again be favourites despite losing to the same opponent in the semi-final just weeks ago.
The Bombers reached the grand final with a 55-49 win over Rupertswood on Saturday.
The Bombers, back with their full line-up, led at every quarter, forcing the Sharks to chase all game.
Bombers playing coach Lauren Close was relieved to have made it to a second straight grand final.
“It’s nice waking up a winner after last week,” Close said on Sunday.
“We went back to how we played against Rupertswood in the first final and stuck to those structures.”
A major key to the Bombers’ win was being able to maintain a lead.
“Every time we would push the score out, Rupertswood would fight back,” she said.
“They were always fighting to stay with us.
“They’re a young side and it’s something our experience helped us with.”
Madison Caulfield and Mikaela Vaughan, who both missed the loss to Macedon, were named the best in Saturday’s match.
Vaughan, playing in goal attack, shot 35 goals. “It was a completely different vibe with them back in the side,” Close said.
Alex Maher and Amy Starzer were best for the Sharks, who were missing league team of the year centre Maddi Gay.
The one downside of the win for the Bombers was a calf injury to Lee Chicas.
“She says it feels alright but she’ll get it checked out,” Close said.
“Meikah Johns came on and replaced her and did a really good job.”
Close says last year’s loss will be in the player’s minds in the lead-up to the Macedon game, even though only two players remain from the grand final team which lost last year.
“There’s a lot more experience in this year’s side,” Close said. “We have to somehow outplay Bec [Colwell]. She and Kate McLeod are Macedon’s main players.”
Close, who missed last year’s grand final after knee surgery, is excited to get onto the court this year.
“I strapped the knee last year and tried to get on the court but no one would let me,” she said.
