Kangaroo Flat and Golden Square vie for A-grade title

The netball powerhouses have reached the league's pinnacle game and will be chasing grand final glory on Saturday.  

The two teams have played out different seasons in 2014.

The Roos have been the best team during the home and away season, they finished on top of the ladder and are in the perfect spot to avenge last year’s heartbreaking grand final loss.

The Bulldogs’ past three games have proved they have deserved their spot in the decider, knocking out Maryborough, Kyneton and Gisborne.

Kangaroo Flat coach Janelle Hobbs said her team was raring to go.

“The girls are feeling excellent,” she said on the eve of the game.

“We had a short sharp skills session on Thursday night and the girls were up and about.

"We are really looking forward to getting on court.”

Hobbs said she was wary of Golden Square’s momentum heading into the grand final.

“They are obviously playing their best netball of the year,” she said.

“We have only played the one final, having had the first week off and last week.

“We will be fit and ready to go from the start of the game.  

"We want to come out firing, and hopefully, stop that momentum early in the first quarter.”

Hobbs said if each player played their role then she was confident her team would win.

“We believe we have the height and athleticism that matches up well with them,” she said.

“In the two times we have played them we have kept them to around 35 goals, so if we can do that and we also score our 15 goals a quarter, then we will be in good shape.”

Golden Square coach Lia Marrone said her team was up for the challenge.

“We have really gelled as a team and hit form at the right end of the season,” she said.

“The Roos are strong all over the court and have proven themselves as the ones to beat this season.

“We are going into the game knowing that Flat are the favourites but that won’t stop us.

“We will bring it to them and, hopefully, we can pull out one more win.”

Marrone said she was hoping to surprise Kangaroo Flat.

“The Roos have had convincing wins against us during the season,” she said.

“This weekend we will be looking  to change things up from the last time we played them.

“While I think that the strong defence line up for both teams will play a big part in this match I think it will come down to who can handle the pressure of finals.”

Marrone said one of the key court battles will be between defender Allira Holmes and veteran shooter Nina Cass. 

"Nina and Allira will be a good match up," she said. 

"Nina has the height and strength and Allira has determination and agility."

Hobbs said her team had been building for this game for the past few years.

"We have learned from last year's one goal loss," she said. 

"We have been training hard since January and if we stick to our processes than everything will fall into place."

Several Golden Square players will be playing in their first BFNL grand final. 

Marrone said it would mean a lot to the club if they won on Saturday. 

"Square won its last A-grade premiership in 2011, so we are ready for another," she said.

The A-grade grand final will be played at the Queen Elizabeth Oval on Saturday at 3pm. 

Kangaroo Flat: Nina Cass, Rachel Mackenzie, Karly Bingham, Chelsea Sartori, Simone Butler, Alicia McGlashan, Monica Wellington, Bridget Chambers, Yasmin Thomas and Sarah Fern. 

Golden Square: Lia Marrone, Meg Gilbert, Allira Holmes, Amy Davies, Ashley Ryan, Abbey Ryan, Lucy Morcom, Jody Richards, Jaclyn Tanner, Belinda Pinner, Aimee Ryan and Georgia Cross.