![Colbinabbin coach and goal attack Liz Cobbledick. Colbinabbin coach and goal attack Liz Cobbledick.](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/j98Hh85wiUB5yeTBh2fLTR/6757d51b-ceee-4fdc-95fa-f387a1ba60df.JPG/r0_0_4496_2997_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
COLBINABBIN premiership coach Liz Cobbledick has backed her side to rebound strongly following a second-semi loss to White Hills.
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The Grasshoppers suffered their first defeat of the season, when beaten by 19 goals last Saturday.
It has forced the reigning premiers into a preliminary final contest against an in-form and confident Mount Pleasant, which has scored impressive back-to-back finals wins over Leitchville-Gunbower and Huntly.
As they continue their chase for a third consecutive premiership, Cobbledick was confident her side could quickly regroup and again challenge for a flag.
“Mount Pleasant will be really tough opposition, but hopefully we can come away with a win, she said.
“If we play our best netball we are right in there with a show.”
With Colbinabbin having had the bye in the final home and away round and a break in the first week of finals courtesy of a top-place finish, Cobbledick suggested Saturday’s loss was not necessarily the worst outcome.
“Two weekends off is a quite a big break,” she said.
“Considering our players are half in Melbourne, half in Bendigo, we haven’t really been able to get everyone together all that often.
“I don’t think it will hurt us to be playing again next weekend to be honest – hopefully we can get a win and be playing in another grand final.”
The Grasshoppers were without dual premiership star Jess Geary for Saturday’s game against White Hills.
Cobbledick said at this point she was not expected to be back until a potential grand final rematch against the Demons.
Regardless of the outcome of Saturday’s preliminary final, Cobbledick anticipated White Hills would be hard to overcome following a dominant semi-final display, highlighted by some stellar individual performances.
“(Goal keeper) Anna-Grace Close was tough to stop, she really matched Lou (Dupuy) for height and was really good contesting,” she said.
“Their goalers were fantastic .- Shannyn Keely shot at 86 per cent – that made it hard.
“Our defenders rebounded when they had the opportunity, they just didn’t have the chance to do that all often as their goalers were so accurate.”
Saturday’s loss was the Grasshoppers’ first since last season’s second semi-final, which was also inflicted by White Hills.