Woodend-Hesket wrote another chapter into its netball legacy on Saturday as it claimed a third straight Riddell District Netball League premiership.
The Hawks A-grade side had never made a grand final heading into the 2022 season, but things were starting to brew.
A grand final loss in 2022, has been followed by three straight premierships to put the side in rare company.
Hawks playing-coach Ty Coppinger said it was pretty special.
“It feels pretty amazing,” she said. “It will take a little bit to sink in.
“I knew that we had the team to be able to do it. It was a matter of executing it.
“It’s the people within it and once we’ve got that core group it’s been just a matter building on that.
“Keep building on what you’ve created. The last four years is credit to that and everyone else who has been part of the netball program over the years.”
For most of the first quarter there wasn’t anything between the two teams as they went goal for goal.
The Hawks capitalised late on some errors from the Bombers to lead by five goals at the first break.
From there, the Hawks were able to slowly extend the lead having fully taken control of the game.
With the match decided, the Hawks blew the margin out and were able to bring on everyone from the bench to get their opportunity on court.
The Hawks won, 57-39.
Coppinger said they wanted to set the tone early against a Bombers outfit which was known for its strong second halves.
“We know in the second half they are going to come firing, and they did and I don’t think the scoreboard fully reflected the game,” she said.
“It was hard out there and tough for the whole 60 minutes.
“Everyone stepped up and everyone played their role [perfectly, I couldn’t have asked for anything better than every single one of the girls.”
Defensively was where the Hawks set the tone as they shut down the experienced Bombers attack line up.
Coppinger and her partner in crime Georgia Bowkett showed what years of playing together does as they got the results they were after.
They made it hard work for the Bombers attackers and set up plenty of forays up the court.
Coppinger was awarded the best on court medal by the umpires. She also won the medal in 2023, with her sister Sam Coppinger winning it last year.
The star defender said winning the premiership was what was important.
“It could have gone to anyone, I was in shock,” Coppinger said. “Every player out there played their role and without that, we wouldn’t have any of this.”
At the other end of the court, the youngster player on the court Natalie McDonald showed plenty of composure.
Coppinger said McDonald was an absolute star.
“She has gone from strength to strength through this season,” she said.
“I think today [Saturday] she just stepped up again. For someone who is 16 to have that level of composure and maturity, I can’t speak highly of her and her improvement across the season.
“I knew she had the talent there … she works her butt off non-stop and credit to her.”
Rebecca Hicks and Jessica Martin were the other two to play in their first A-grade premiership for the Hawks.
Martin has come through the ranks at the Hawks. Mackenzie Brown, who played in the 2023 premiership, is another home grown player, who came back up into the side late in the season.
“I think it’s so special, juniors of the club,” Coppinger said. “Jess coming up into A-grade this year, has taken it with two hands, again another person who has improved out of sight and Macca has been in B-grade for the majority of the season, and she has stepped in so seamlessly.”
Coppinger has already signed on for next season as coach.
“We’ll be back bigger and better, I would say.”
