It’s the match the White Hills A-grade netball team has been waiting for – the chance to take revenge for last year’s grand final upset at the hands of Colbinabbin.
White Hills dominated the 2009 home and away season, not dropping a game and headed into the grand final as favourites against the fourth-placed Colbinabbin.
But as White Hills learnt in last year’s decider, in a grand final – anything can happen.
White Hills got off to a terrible start, trailing the consistent Colbinabbin side by 12 goals at the half time break and, although White Hills fought back in the second half, the defecit proved too much to see the team losing by one goal at the final siren.
White Hills have been equally as dominant in the 2010 season and will again enter today’s grand final as firm favourites, but this time will be wary of a capable opponent.
White Hills coach Christie Griffiths said her team was determined to make amends for last year’s disappointment.
“They’re keen as mustard after last year and after the start we’ve got away to,” she said,
“The determination we’ve got after last year to go out and win is amazing.
“We’re determined because we did lose to Colbo last year and we’re very keen to come up against them again.
“We are confident, but as we know, anything can happen in grand finals.”
White Hills goes into the grand final on Colbinabbin’s court in hot form.
The red and black scored a comprehensive 56-32 victory against Colbo in the second semi-final.
Griffiths said the recent big win against Colbinabbin was achieved through great teamwork as well as the form of several key players.
“The two times we played them this season we were missing two players, and when we played them in the first final it was the first time we had a full team for the year,” she said.
“Danielle Sawyer has been very good for us. Last year she played in goals, but this year she’s played in defence.
“Michelle Atherton and Clare Hope in goals have also been a very good combination for us.”
Colbinabbin has had a relatively difficult finals campaign, with tough wins against Huntly and Leitchville-Gunbower as well as the disappointing loss to White Hills in the second semi.
Colbo coach Anne McEvoy said her team would have to make some significant changes from its semi-final performance against White Hills to achieve back-to-back premiership wins.
“We will go into the grand final as underdogs as White Hills gave us a fair hiding in the second semi,” she said.
“We made an awful lot of unforced errors and didn’t deliver the ball well into the goal ring.
“We will need to be better and be a bit more clever about what we do.
“We need to put more shots up and have a much better game in attack than in the second semi.”
Despite its recent form, McEvoy said her team had the psychological advantage after last year’s grand final upset.
“We’re in it to win it and we’re really looking forward to playing a grand final on our home court.
“Our team will go in to the match with a lot of self-belief and that is a major psychological advantage to have,” said McEvoy.
“Last year’s result shows we have a bit of fighting spirit.”
White Hills will feature in four of the five grand finals today at M.J. Morgan Reserve, including A reserve and B grade against Mt Pleasant and in D grade against Leitchville-Gunbower.
The C grade grand final will be between Huntly and Elmore.
Today’s netball starts at 9am.
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