Tara Murray
Woodend-Hesket is through to a third straight Riddell District Netball League grand final.
Last season’s premiers were the first team to win through to the decider, beating Wallan in a semi final.
Hawks coach and star defender Ty Coppinger said it was pretty special to be back in the grand final again.
“This year we went in with the goal to get there and to have success in all areas of the program and we’ve been able to achieve that is really pleasing,” she said.
“We know how hard it is to turn around and do it again with a target on your back as everyone wants to beat you.
“You can’t rest on that, you have to step it up.”
The Hawks entered the match with Wallan after two weeks off due to a bye in the regular season and then one in the first week of finals after claiming the minor premiership.
Coppinger said they used that time to further gel together as a group and focused on what they wanted to achieve.
She said they were pretty happy with the 52-34 win to seal their grand final spot.
“The weather on the day, it was four seasons in one day,” Coppinger said.
“I was proud of the girls. At each stage everyone played a role and focused on what was needed at each break and reset and put out what we knew that we could do.”
It was the Hawks youngest player in Charlee Duff-Tytler that stood tallest for the Hawks in the win.
She shot 44 goals at 83 per cent in windy conditions. No other goaler shot at more than 68 per cent.
“She has a mature head on her shoulders,” Coppinger said. “I’m proud of how she stepped up.
“She had three different direct opponents on the day and she stayed focus and was rewarded with player of the week.”
The Hawks have the weekend off having won straight through to the grand final.
They face the winner of the Wallan and Riddell preliminary final.
Coppinger said it was extra time to work out what they needed to do come the grand final.
“Once we know our opponent we’ll fine tune some things and go from there,” she said.
“Both are quality opponents and we’ll wait and see and then come up with how we want to go from there.”
The Hawks only have their A-grade team left, with their C-grade and D-grade getting knocked out in the semi finals.
It’s the first time the Hawks have had every netball team make finals.
‘We could not be prouder of everyone to make it that far.”
