Tara Murray
This year’s Essendon District Football League netball premiership was extra special for Rupertswood.
The Sharks on Saturday produced a strong four quarter performance to easily account for Aberfeldie, 37-14 in the grand final.
It was the perfect start for the Sharks, who produced turnover after turnover and were able to convert in the first quarter.
With the game in their control they were able to continue to grow the lead throughout the remaining three quarters.
For the Sharks, it’s their top side’s third straight premiership. They won the A-grade premiership in the Riddell District Netball League in 2019.
They were on top of the EDFL netball ladder last year, when the season ended early due to COVID-19. The league awarded premierships to the teams that were on top.
Sharks coach Michael Saker said the group was really motivated this year to get a chance to take to the court in a grand final.
“It was our motivation more than anything this year,” he said. “Being awarded the premiership last year didn’t feel right.
“It just sort of felt a bit unfilled from last season.
“So to get that opportunity on court, just showed the rest of the competition that we were deserved that premiership.
“It’s quite exciting and a relief to be honest. The girls were bloody awesome and I couldn’t be prouder of their efforts.”
Abers had won the last matchup between the two sides in the semi finals, with the Sharks playing with just six players due to injuries.
They had also got the jump on the Sharks earlier in the season when the two teams played off.
Saker said the start had been a big focus for them.
“Full credit to Abefeldie, they gave us a little bit of a wake up call in the first semi,” he said.
“It showed that premierships aren’t handed to you. The girls knew that four quarters was what it was going to take.
“The instruction of coming out strong from the first whistle. The girls executed it perfectly, I can’t fault anything.”
Saker was thrilled with how their goaling end had lifted from earlier in the finals and able to take the physical pressure thrown at them.
With the game all but over at half time, both teams were sloppy early in the third quarter having made positional changes.
It was again the Sharks who settled first on the back of strong defensive pressure.
“We knew defensive pressure was the key to this game,” Saker said. “The third quarter was back and forth and we had to get that moment of patience and control.”
Saker said he couldn’t single out the performance of any player, with all eight stepping up to the plate.
Midcourter Holly Keating was awarded best on court, a nice present as she celebrated her birthday.
Saker said the group, who were close on and off the court, had been a pleasure to coach.
“You can give them an instruction and they go out on court and just do it.”
