Euroa’s Sarah Ternes has taken the step forward into A-grade netball with aplomb

But as the season trucked on and Ternes had the cogs turning inside the ring for the Magpies’ B-grade side it became impossible for A-grade coach Ellie Warnock to ignore.

Now the sharpshooter is part of a regimented Euroa team hoping to snap a 40-year premiership drought as the Magpies meet Echuca in Sunday’s Goulburn Valley League decider.

“I’ve just come back to playing netball (at the start of the year), I’ve had two kids in the last few years,” Ternes said.

“I came back to pre-season and was happy to get a game in B-reserve, really.

“I played most of the season in B-grade and dabbled into A-grade part way through the season here and there.

“And I’ve become a regular fixture over the last little bit which has been nice.”

Ternes, a Myrtleford junior, joined Euroa a decade ago in a manner mirroring how many of her current teammates operate.

With the bulk of the Magpies’ A-graders now based in Melbourne, she’s well-versed in the back-and-forth from the city to play, despite now living at Euroa.

“I came up back when Kelly Hill was coaching, so a few friends and I, we sort of did what some of the girls do now,” Ternes said.

“Some girlfriends and I were living in Melbourne, Kelly Hill put the shout out — they had connections through her — so I jumped in the car with them and never left.”

Ternes was in the mix when Euroa had its last real crack at finals in A-grade.

Under the late, great Jenny Barlow, the Magpies had two consecutive runs in September during the 2015 and 2016 seasons.

So Ternes knows what making it to the big dance does for the club and the entire community.

“The town is starting to get pretty excited; the street is starting to get some black-and-white up and amongst it,” she said.

“The shopfronts are starting to get their decorations up which is lovely to see.

“I’m there every day, I’m obviously a local now, so it’s really nice to walk up the street and have people wishing you good luck and getting behind the team.”

Getting to a grand final is one thing, but winning is a different beast.

A rested Echuca awaits, but Euroa has had the wood over the Murray Bombers this season.

Warnock’s charges beat Echuca 65-46 in round eight and 34-32 eight weeks later; however, Ternes knows the regular season means little to nothing in a grand final setting.

“They’re very fit, they’re very strong and we know they’ve got a lot of experience across the court,” she said.

“We played against many of them when they played for Ky years ago so they know each other well.

“We just have to be consistent and do all the things that we need to do right and stop any errors on our behalf. That’s what will get us over the line hopefully.

“It’s been building over the last year or two, they’re definitely very keen.

“Definitely this current crop, even someone like Eliza Hoare, she’s been part of that A-grade side and she’s stuck it out from when she was 15.

“So for someone like that to come through the ranks and be part of a grand final team, they’re definitely keen to have a go.”