IT was a BFNL netball grand final day that promised plenty and delivered more.
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Crucially for those who ventured to the QEO, it had a little something for most club supporters when looking through the list of winners from the lower grades.
Gisborne, Golden Square, Kangaroo Flat and South Bendigo all went home with premierships.
Of the seven clubs represented, only Strathfieldsaye and Sandhurst missed out.
The Storm came close, losing arguably the day's most entertaining clash, a 17-and-under nail-biter against Gisborne.
An even encounter was by no means unexpected after the two sides played out two draws during the season and the Bulldogs won their semi-final match by two goals.
Like all of their previous three encounters, Gisborne bounced out to a lead of more than 10 goals in the second quarter, but the Storm were able to rein the margin into five goals by half time.
By midway in the third the Storm led by one goal before the Bulldogs steadied and ran out winners 51-44.
Goal attack Holly Doricic was best-on-court for the Bulldogs, whose coaches, A-grade stars Maddy Stewart and Tarryn Rymer, were lavish in their praise of their players.
"It was a really tight tussle the whole game - they kept coming back at us, but we knew that the girls would keep pushing on and they did," Stewart said.
Golden Square completed a hat-trick of premierships in the A-reserve decider against Sandhurst.
An experienced Bulldogs team led at every break en-route to a 44-28 victory, with midcourter Clare Hope was best-on-court.
Bulldogs coach Kendyl Hopley said her side entered the game hungry for success.
"We have a great experienced team with some good knowledge on the court and the girls have played together now for five years now," she said.
"It is a close-knit team and the on-court chemistry is what really makes the dream work."
Kangaroo Flat, coached by first year coach Jayden Cowling, won the B-grade 49-36 over South Bendigo, while the Bloods captured the B-reserve title with a 41-38 win over Golden Square.
Roos midcourter Rachel Winfield was best-on-court in B-grade, while South’s Yelana Jennings was a popular winner in B-reserve.
