FOR one it was a case of third time lucky, and for the other a premiership at her first attempt.
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Two of the BFNL's brightest young stars are celebrating Victorian Netball League (VNL) premiership success after Wednesday night's grand finals in Melbourne.
Sandhurst midcourt ace Meg Williams scored an overdue flag win with North East Blaze in division one against rivals Boroondara Express, while in the night's under-19 encounter, South Bendigo young gun Chloe Langley capped a brilliant first season in the VNL with a premiership win over Peninsula Waves.
The Blaze had to draw on all their talent and guile, after trailing by one goal at quarter time and being up by just three early in the final term, before steadying to win 50-44.
Williams, who had been on the end of VNL premiership defeat twice with the Blaze's under-19 team, was rapt to put an end to her grand final hoodoo in the state's premier netball competition.
"When they got it back to three goals I was thinking 'I'm not ready for a Sandhurst repeat'," she said in reference to last year's BFNL grand final thriller, won in overtime by the Dragons.
"It was so good to finally crack one in the VNL.
"With this team this year, we had so much potential to take it all out - in the end we just played for each other and for the club and that made it that extra bit special."
Williams, who lined up at centre, was named player of the match, adding to her two-straight BFNL grand final best on court medal wins in 2017-18.
The Blaze's triumph was their third win in three games this season against the Express, who went into the grand final on a roll after two stirring come from behind finals wins.
While it was success for Williams, it was disappointment for the Bendigo trio of Ruby Barkmeyer, Abbey Ryan and Chelsea Sartori, who were members of the Express.
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"At the end of the game we all got together and were saying how good it was that we all got to experience a VNL grand final," Williams said.
"Ruby really shot the lights out, she was awesome and was banging them from everywhere.
"I played on Chelsea for a quarter, which was a really great tussle, before she went into wing attack and Abbey was in goals.
"The girls just feed off each other so well in that attacking end and that was when they pegged it back to three, so it's credit to those girls' effort.
Seventeen-year-old Langley could barely believe her luck at snaring a premiership in her first state-level grand final.
The emerging goal shooter, who hails from Castlemaine and attends Castlemaine Secondary College, spent the second half of the under-19 contest at goal attack, shooting 13 goals from 15 attempts as the Falcons won 53-41.
"It was so exciting and the crowd was so big - it's was just a massive rush," Langley said.
"Early in the last quarter we were only up by one goal, but we just kept to our structure and were able to blow it out to 12 goals."
Langley, who earlier this season represented Victoria at the 17-and-under nationals, said stepping up to VNL this season had dramatically improved her game.
"Getting coached by the best coaches in Victoria has improved my game so much," she said.
"It's been three trips a week to Melbourne a week.
"Monday I'm training up in Bendigo with South, Tuesday I'm working, Wednesday I have got a (VNL game), Thursday I'm working, Friday I've got training in Footscray, Saturday I have a (BFNL) game and Sunday I'm training in Altona, but it's all been worth it."
Langley will now turn her focus to South Bendigo's first A-grade finals campaign in more than 15 years.
The Bloods, who meet Strathfieldsaye on Saturday before a final round bye, and will play either Eaglehawk or Kangaroo Flat in an elimination final.
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