Murchison-Toolamba got a big grand final day off to the perfect start with the 15-and-under flag.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
The Kyabram District League’s two top 15-and-under sides had the honour of raising the curtain on a busy grand final day at Mooroopna Saturday.
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Minor premiers Tallygaroopna, with but one blemish to its record in 2024, collided with second-placed Murchison-Toolamba in the morning’s early kickoff clash.
Their task was to set the bar high for a barnstorming day of netball - and the top-ranked outfit going in delivered with aplomb.
It felt to the naked eye as if the Grasshoppers had the lion’s share of play during a first term in which they led by three goals on multiple occasions.
Some tidy defensive turnovers got the Redlegs up the other end often enough to keep it a one-goal game at the first change, however.
The second period, meanwhile, was defined by Murchison-Toolamba displaying much of the same pressure while reaping decidedly more rewards on the scoreboard, with rebounds aplenty on show.
Goaler and club captain Matilda Ewart was firmly hitting her stride as well by this stage with her side six to the good at half time.
Three straight goals early in the third gave the Redlegs some life and turned the contest firmly back on.
Grasshoppers defensive unit Lexi Anderson and Lori Bathman kept matters at arm’s length, however, with a pair of hard-earned deflections off shots that stopped the comeback in its tracks.
So, too, did the wind, with shots becoming harder to land as gusts rolled in and Murchison-Toolamba’s pressure behind the ball continued to lift, resulting in a double-figure margin at the final change.
Matters were largely done and dusted from there although it closed to within eight midway through the final term.
It was Murchison-Toolamba’s day, raising the morning’s very first pennant courtesy of a strong 36-27 win.
Tallygaroopna takes its final huddle before the game.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
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Tallygaroopna's Matilda Hodgetts looks to chuck it long.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
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Murchison-Toolamba's Frankie Ewart rears back.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
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Tallygaroopna's Lexi Pearce takes her position after being awarded a foul.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
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Tallygaroopna's Eydie Fennell tries to block out space.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
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A first-name mirror as Tallygaroopna's Lexi Pearce shoots next to Murchison-Toolamba's Lexi Anderson.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
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Tallygaroopna's Ellie Sidebottom analyses what lies ahead.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
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Murchison-Toolamba's Lexi Anderson shovels it out of defence.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
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There was no shortage of Murchison-Toolamba support on a big day for the club.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
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Murchison-Toolamba's Frankie Ewart gets up to take possession.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
Coach Shae Drew respected the quality of their opposition and praised her side’s nerves of steel in closing the game out.
“Tally are an amazing team and we’ve had some really good tussles with them this year,” Drew said.
“My girls’ ability to stay very calm and just focus on what they needed to do got the job done.
“It was the same kind of messaging as throughout the whole year: we’re out there for each other and playing for each other. It’s about teamwork and they’re an amazing team, a champion team rather than a team of champions.
“The girls have been committed from the day we organised the team; they’ve trained hard all year and they always do extra.
“They gel together beautifully and the club has done an amazing job developing our juniors.”
Green and gold goaler Nyla Anderson was rewarded for her prowess with the best-on-court medal.
“Nyla is just a really hard worker. She’s really strong defensively and offensively,” Drew said.
“She did a great job on a really good defender.
“She held her own and got the job done today against a really good defensive side.”
