Courting the dream

Talented group set for netball showdown

RISING Bendigo netball star Meg Williams is hoping it's a case of third time lucky when she lines up in Saturday's Victorian Netball League 19-and-under grand final.

Williams has played in two grand finals during her blossoming netball career, both for her BFNL club Sandhurst and both losses.

Her DC North East Blaze team will go into the premiership decider at the State Netball and Hockey Centre as underdogs, having lost to Geelong Cougars by six goals in their August 10 semi-final and once during the regular season.

Not that the clever and skilful midcourter minds the underdog tag - in fact she says she prefers it.

"I'm sure we have the talent there to beat them, every time we've played them we've got that little bit closer," Williams said.

"I'm sure with the players we have, it's definitely possible."

The Blaze have come close to toppling the Cougars once before this season, with the teams' round 15 match on July 13 ending in a tie.

It was Geelong's only blemish in the 18 round season as they racked up 17 wins and a draw.

The Blaze were not far behind on 15 wins, two losses and a draw.

They qualified for the grand final with a stirring 46-40 win over City West Falcons last week.

Williams is in her first season with the Flames and believes her exposure to strong VNL competition had done wonders for her BFNL game.

"I love the professionalism and the extra training, and really pushing myself," she said.

"And then coming back to Bendigo and doing the things I have learned down there and putting them into my game.

"Learning different things from my coaches in Melbourne and Jannaya (Webb) and Rose (Gallagher) in Bendigo has been really good for my netball."

If the cards fell her way, Saturday's grand final could be the first of two Williams gets to play in this season.

Sandhurst will enter the 2016 finals series in second position behind only Kangaroo Flat.

"It would be nice, it would cap off a great year if I could get into two grand finals," Williams said.

"We work so hard as a team at Sandhurst - I think our time is coming."

Williams was a part of the Dragons' A-reserve team which finished runners-up to Sandhurst last season and also the club's 17-and-under grand final team in 2014.

She is showing no signs of an ankle injury that restricted her to just a handful of minutes in the Dragons' recent loss to Kangaroo Flat.

Williams considers herself to be fortunate to be involved at such a professional, where she can look up to the likes of reigning league medallist Heather Oliver.

Williams, who is studying year 11, at Catholic College Bendigo, will not be the region's only representative on VNL grand final day.

Her Blaze teammate Steph Gorrie is a formerly from Echuca.

Fiona Themann (Newbridge) and Maddie Stewart (Gisborne) will feature for Melbourne University Lightning in the championship final against City West Falcons.

Strathfieldsaye coach Melissa Ryan is an assistant coach for Boroondara division one team, which plays City West Falcons.

19-and-under: Geelong Cougars v DC North east Blaze (4pm).

Division one:  City West Falcons v Boroondara Express (6pm).

Championship: Melbourne University Lightning v City West Falcons (8pm).