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A REMODELLED Colbinabbin has upset White Hills to claim a second straight HDFNL A-grade netball premiership.
The Grasshoppers made a mockery of their season form against the Demons to score a remarkable 57-39 grand final victory at Huntly on Saturday
It was the fourth time this season the two sides had played each other, but the Grasshoppers only win.
White Hills' dominance triggered a serious rethink of the game plan for the premiership decider among Grasshoppers leaders during the week.
Coach Liz Cobbledick responded by radically overhauling the structure of her team.
In what proved a match-winning move, the first-year Grasshoppers coach started Louise Dupuy at goal shooter, one week after being one of the team's best at goal keeper in a preliminary final win against North Bendigo.
The 2015 premiership coach responded with an epic performance that earned her the unanimous nod as best-on-court.
Dupuy, who only returned to the line-up late in the season, dominated the scoreboard and a succession of opponents by scoring 49 of her team's goals.
Equally decisive for the Grasshoppers was the move of Carly Geary into a well-disciplined defence as goal keeper.
The dual premiership Grasshopper missed the bulk of the season after injuring her ankle in round one, but had not played at goal keeper this season before Saturday.
Cobbledick said three previous defeats against the Demons called for something "gutsy" in terms of a game plan, with the league best and fairest only settling on her line-up late on grand final eve.
"We had to do something out there today, (but) it was either going to go one way or the other," she said.
"I think Lou's efforts under the post today were exceptional."
"We had a target there all day. They threw three people at her but couldn't manage to stop her."
The Grasshoppers had strong player across the court, with goal defence Brydie Lawford and wing defence Gabby Barlow consistently repelling attacks forward by the Demons.
Cobbledick reserved praise for centre Olivia McEvoy, who engaged in a grand battle against White Hils star Lauren Bowles.
"She has some really good battles with Lauren this season - she's been working at that, coming back each week," she said.
"She had a really good game."
In contrast to Colbinabbin, which made no changes to its line-up throughout the game, White Hills made several with only Bowles and wing attack Sarah Fern finishing the game where they started.
Shannyn Keely, who earlier in the day played in the Demons A-reserve premiership win, provided some late spark off the bench at goal shooter, scoring nine goals in the final quarter.
The second quarter was the Demons' best, albeit they were outscored 11-10.
