Netball Association Championships: Goulburn Valley defeats Bendigo to claim state titles
Goulburn Valley dipped into its undeniable depth of talent to win the Netball Victoria Association Championships open title. See the game’s best players.
Goulburn Valley was forced to dip into its undeniable depth of talent to win the Netball Victoria Association Championships open title in Melbourne on Sunday.
The GV had to leave out some of its best players including Seymour trio Nakita Singe, Sarah Szczykulski and Jessica Lallo due to Victorian Netball League commitments in the lead-up.
A further blow came when Mooroopna defender Dayna Williams was also late out due to VNL duties.
But the GV overcame the string of setbacks and some indifferent form during the preliminary rounds to eventually beat Bendigo in the final, 18-14.
It lost to Ovens and Murray in the opening game 18-14 before turning the tables against the neighbouring rivals 16-11 in the semi-finals to advance to the grand final.
Echuca duo Belinda Lees and Steph Vick and Shepparton United’s Jessie Barnes-Hill and Kara Blizzard formed part of a successful attacking end of the court while Mooroopna’s Elle Brooks and Ella Ogier and Tatura’s Molly Kennedy held up the defensive end.
Brooks generally plays in goals, but with a dearth of options and the late withdrawl of Williams, she was switched to defence by coach Di Hanslow.
GV acting chairwoman Jacqui Hudgson said it was a “huge” against-the-odds triumph for the league.
“It shows when girls want to play and represent their league they will play their absolute guts out, work any combination and do whatever they need to get through,” she said.
“It was a huge, gutsy win by the whole side.”
The GV, which was the reigning champions from the last time the titles were played in 2019, also beat the O and M in an interleague match held at Mooroopna in May.
PREVIEW
Long time rivals Goulburn Valley and Ovens and Murray will join three other major country leagues aiming to win the Victorian Association Netball Open Championship in Melbourne on Sunday.
GV and O and M met in May this year at Mooroopna with the host league winning narrowly.
The association titles bring together the top metro and country competitions in the state.
But an unexpected clash with Victorian Netball League finals has meant many of the country leagues are missing key players.
The GV is the hardest hit with Seymour trio Nakita Singe, Sarah Szczykulski and Jessica Lallo, Shepparton United’s Sophie Garner and Tatura’s Elsie Boyer out after they played against the O and M in May.
Its depth will be tested, but coach Di Hanslow is banking on Mooroopna duo Elle Brooks and Ella Ogier and Shepparton United pair Laura Cole and Liv Kirby stepping up.
“Netball Victoria’s timing of putting this event on has paid a big price for regional sport, which is unfortunate,” Hanslow said.
“This event is normally held a lot earlier.”
GV won the 2019 association open title with another narrow win against O and M, which will also be missing Corowa-Rutherglen star Sophie Hanrahan and Yarrawonga’s Tilly Kennedy on Sunday due to VNL commitments.
“We generally play finals, but have often fallen short,” O and M coach Georgie Bruce said.
“We’re going down with a great side even though we’ve had some players unable to commit.”
Hampden, Bendigo and Murray leagues are also competing on Sunday.
Hampden coach Will Jamison said the bulk of his team were teenagers with defenders
Remeny McCann from Cobden and Lilly Eldridge from Camperdown expected to perform well.
“Hampden is usually in the finals, but has never won it before,” he said.
Emma McDonald is in her first year as the Murray coach and is hoping for big things from mid court players Ella Harvey from Deniliquin, Grace Hammond from Tongala and Caitlin McLachlan from Nathalia.
“Collectively I think it’s going to be a team effort to get us over the line against some of those tougher and more populated leagues,” McDonald said.
“We’ll definitely be drawing on some of the experience we have in the team.”
Bendigo coach Jayden Cowling said it suffered a blow with Sandhurst’s Meg Williams being out with a leg injury, but was expecting Chelsea Sartori from Kangaroo Flat to be a handy replacement.
“We want to win,” he said.
“It’s not every day these girls get the chance to play with each other in a league setting.”
Bendigo finished runner-up in 2018.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
ELLE BROOKS (Goulburn Valley, Mooroopna)
Previously played with Yarrawonga in the O and M and won its A grade best and fairest as a 17-year-old in 2019 before joining Mooroopna.
Deadly accurate in goals and returns to the GV line-up after missing the interleague game against O and M in May due to illness.
GRACE SENIOR (Ovens and Murray, Corowa-Rutherglen)
The O and M’s most prolific goalshooter in recent seasons in the team presently on top of the ladder and chasing redemption for a narrow loss in the 2019 grand final.
“She is bagging between 40 and 50 goals per game,” coach Georgie Bruce said.
“She shoots them from anywhere.”
HOLLIE PHILLIPS (Hampden, South Warrnambool)
Big part of the reason South Warrnambool is sitting on top of the ladder, a game and a half clear of its nearest rival, after crossing from Hamilton Kangaroos at the start of this season.
A goal shooter, Phillips tied with South Warrnambool’s Ally O’Connor for the Hampden league’s MVP award last year and made a huge impression on debut for her new club when she shot 47 goals in round one against Cobden.
MADDY STEWART (Bendigo, Gisborne)
Experienced campaigner who plays goal defence and will captain Bendigo on Sunday.
“She has been around the league for a long time and just brings that intensity you need to an elite level,” coach Jayden Cowling said.
“She is used to playing week in, week out at VNL level and has that skill and professionalism that’s needed to win on Sunday.”
RHIANNAN MAXWELL (Murray, Deniliquin)
A standout player of the Murray league who is a force in goals for Deniliquin after previously winning a Picola league best and fairest with Blighty.
“She is very experienced. She is also agile, accurate and a really great leader out on the court,” coach Emma McDonald said.
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