Contax’s Tayla Williams and Matrics’ Emily van den Munckhof ready for netball grand final
The state’s top two netball teams will lock horns in tonight’s premiership decider – one is aiming for its third title in a row, while another is striving to win its first since 2016.
They both missed out on lining up in their teams’ last title victories and have never played in a Premier League netball grand final.
But that’s all about to change for these talented netballers.
Contax’s Tayla Williams was on the sidelines for the entire season last year after hurting her knee and did not feature in Contax’s grand final win.
Emily van den Munckhof switched to Matrics last year after a decade with Newton Jaguars and therefore did not play in the 2016 premiership.
But now the pair are now preparing to take to the court with their respective teams when they battle in tonight’s grand final.
Contax, which is coached by Leanne Eichler, has won the past two titles in a row.
Williams, 19, damaged the articular cartilage in her knee during the 2018 pre-season cup and took almost a year to recover.
The mid-courter, who was also part of SA’s under-19 side that won the 2019 national championship, hoped to help the club claim a three-peat.
“It wasn’t meant to be a heaps long recovery process with my knee but I had a lot of bone bruising and to heal that is pretty much just time,” Williams says.
“I had Chelsea Lemke with me who did her ACL in 2017 and then had a few complications – so having her with me through rehab is what got me through last year.
“I feel like it’s been so long since I’ve played in a grand final – I played in the 2017 reserves one – but it feels like forever ago.
“I can’t wait to be out there.”
Van den Munckhof, 27, did not play in Newton Jaguars’ top-tier grand final win in 2007 as she was a young reserves player.
The goalie was part of Matrics’ preliminary final loss last season but was keen to taste the ultimate success at the top level.
“It (the move to Matrics) was perfect timing for me in my career,” van den Munckhof says.
“They (Matrics) are such a professional group of girls and club in general.
“It’s kind of provided a new challenge for me with where I was at with my career.
“Just to play in a grand final is a privilege but to actually come out on top would take the cake.”
Contax plays Matrics in the Premier League grand final at Netball SA Stadium tonight (Friday, September 6) at 8.30pm.