Shepparton Lawn Average Joes' Nicholas Gattuso is awaiting the challenge of Numurkah Warriors in the GMLTA GM1 grand final.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
For three straight seasons Numurkah Warriors have owned prime real estate in the Goulburn Murray Lawn Tennis Association top division.
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And this weekend the Warriors will come out to play.
The association grand finals are manifesting on the courts of Shepparton Lawn Tennis Club in a scorching Saturday exhibition and, on the other side of the net, vying for the 2024-25 GM1 title is Shepparton Lawn Average Joes.
Nicholas Gattuso’s side may be cheekily named, but they’re anything but ordinary.
Despite their self-deprecating title the tennis Average Joes have played this season is far from average.
Regardless, Gattuso expects a guns-blazing affair from the first serve come Saturday.
“It’s always a good feeling getting through to the grand final regardless of how you’ve been going throughout the year, whether you’ve won all your matches or you’ve just scraped through,” he said.
“Numurkah have definitely set the benchmark over the past two, if not longer, years with the good tennis they’ve played and it’s shown.
“So to test ourselves against them on the weekend, it should be good.”
The Average Joes’ youthful side finished the GM1 regular season as the highest-ranked side, boasting a 7-2-3 record that included three wins and a loss against the Warriors.
Gattuso, despite being only 28, admitted he was now one of his team’s older heads, and said his young crop’s ability to pull in one direction had resulted in a remarkable run.
“There’s not one sort of person that’s really been standing out, I think that’s been the beauty of it,” he said.
“We haven’t left the heavy lifting for one person ... as a team, everyone’s chipped in and done their bit.
“I think that’s been the most pleasing thing for myself, seeing everyone do their bit, pitch in and get the job done for the team.”
Meanwhile, Numurkah is aiming for a fourth straight trophy and has a few key players who have played a heavy hand in making the past success possible.
Numurkah Warriors' Mark Mills is expecting a tight clash on Saturday.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
Coach Mark Mills singled out the class of Jack Bassett and Nick Fenaughty, while alluding to Grant Bassett’s big serve on the doubles court, all of which make the Warriors a fierce fight for any side that crosses them.
“Our men’s side of things has been going really well and, obviously, the ladies have just got to chip in where they can,” Mills said.
“Over the last few years we probably haven’t had a dominant ladies side and they’re chipping away as best they can, and then our men have been really dominating I guess.
“Whether we can do it for one more game I’m not sure, I think it’s going to be a pretty tight one this Saturday, so we’re looking forward to it.”
Mills gave praise to Average Joes’ top seeds, identifying Zach Ranson, Ellie Mifka and Gattuso as those likeliest to send rubbers the distance when players hit the grass.
Gattuso is ready for a fight and knows if his side swings hardest, Numurkah can be toppled on Saturday.
But parallel to premiership ambitions, the Average Joes’ leader just wants to see the stands packed with spectators ready to catch some top-tier tennis.
“It’d be good to see a few people down there because tennis as a whole, we just want as many people playing,” he said.
“Across the whole board, whether it’s GM1, GM2, GM3 all the way through, it’s good to see so many people still involved.
“It’s such an inviting sport for everyone, especially in a country town like Shepparton and surrounding areas.
“To see the support base and the people that are playing, it’s just good to see every week.”
Across the divisions, McEwen Reserve will take on Euroa Blue in the GM2 grand final, while Stanhope and Euroa White are set to contest the GM2 Open decider.
A Euroa derby between Red and Green heads up one of the two GM3 finals, with the other to be decided by a meeting between Kyabram Redbacks and Numurkah Penguins.
Finally, Tatura Twisters and Kyabram Bombers will play off in the GM4 big dance.
Extreme heat forecast for Saturday may alter the start times for each game, with the GMLTA advising players and spectators to keep an eye on its socials for any updates.
