CHARLTON has broken Wedderburn's stranglehold on the North Central Netball Association premiership crown with a thrilling grand final win in overtime on Saturday.
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The two teams could not be separated at the end of regulation time at St Arnaud, with the scores locked at 44-44.
The margin after 10-minutes overtime was a solitary goal, with the Navies triumphing 54-53.
Their first A-grade premiership since 2009 ended a run of six straight Redbacks flags.
The Navies led by five goals at three-quarter time, but had to withstand a late charge from the Redbacks to force overtime.
With teenage goal shooter Chloe Walsh and experienced leader Kate Burton showing the way, Charlton was able to have its nose in front when the siren sounded with the ball in Wedderburn's goal circle.
Winning coach Kim Fitzpatrick praised her players ability to retain possession of the ball when the game was on ther line late in regulation time and during two tense halves of overtime.
Fitzpatrick, who coaches four of the Navies' netball teams and is club president, said the timing of the win was "special" given the current threat posed to the Charlton community by floodwaters.
"To have what's gone on this week in town and to be able to do something like this today is really tremendous," she said.
"Credit to Wedderburn because we did have a little bit of a lead at one stage and they got back at us.
"Our last one was in 2009, so we were the last ones to knock them off - it's good to get another one on top of them."
Goal defence Kate Burton was adjudged best-on-court.
The Navies stalwart and multiple league best and fairest winner returned to the club this season after playing in Strathfieldsaye’s 2015 grand final team in the BFNL.
Premiership celebrations went on without Burton, who left Melbourne on Saturday night for a three-month volunteer stint aboard an African Mercy Ship.
The hospital ship charity provides free health care, community health education and mental health programs to people from some of the world's poorest nations.
The Navies skipper said she was proud of the way her teammates had refused to give in.
"As you saw, you can never say never with Wedderburn," Burton said.
"It feels good to win by one goal - and in overtime.
"I can't even describe it, it's amazing."
Joint Redbacks coach Maddison Holt praised her side's bravery to fight back from a five-goal deficit in the final quarter, but added the Navies had thoroughly earned their win.
"We sort of had nine lives there and got done on the 10th," she said.
"It was a really tough game, bur Charlton have been the competition (for us) all year; they best us three times (and) really deserved it.
"To be honest they were the best team all year and they've been working for it a long time."
Holt and her fellow coach Meg Lockhart hoped the Navies' netball and senior football premierships would serves as a boost for the Charlton community during an obvious tough few days.
In other games - B-grade: Donald defeated Wedderburn 64-53 (Kath Campbell - best-on-court); C-grade: Donald defeated Wedderburn 40-37 (Rachel Downes - best-on-court); 16-an-under A: Donald 31 defeated Wedderburn 31-30 (Keiarah Brooks - best-on-court); 16-and-under B: Wedderburn 30 defeated Wycheproof-Narraport 30-13 (Ingrid Gould - best-on-court); 13-and-under: Wedderburn defeated Charlton 21-10 (Aliza Lockhart - best-on-court).
