Roos determined to learn from grand final pain: Sartori

KIERAN ILES 
BENDIGO TIMES

KANGAROO FLAT captain Chelsea Sartori believes the Roos are primed to put the disappointment of a string of BFNL grand final losses behind them.

The Roos, coached by Australian and Victorian men’s netball representative Jayden Cowling, will be making their fourth trip to a grand final since their last premiership win in 2016.

They lost in 2019 and 2022 to Sandhurst and were overrun by Gisborne last year, after leading by five-goals at three-quarter time.
For the first time since 2016, the Roos will go in as favourites on the back of an undefeated home and away season and a stirring three-goal come-from-behind win over the Dragons in their semi-final clash two weeks ago.
They were forced to do it the hard way in 2019, ’22 and ’24, via the preliminary final.
With Kangaroo Flat’s A-reserve and B-grade teams also chasing premiership glory, Sartori said there was a ‘tremendous vibe’ around Dower Park heading into Saturday.
“At the start of pre-season we spoke about getting everyone into finals and going really deep, but obviously a premiership is the goal,” she said.
“To have three chances on Saturday is pretty special and amazing for our club. It’s great to see the hard work pay off.
“It’s a special group we have got in A-grade this season, so we’re really excited to get out there.
“Having an extra week off and knowing you are in the grand final, you probably enjoy it a bit more, you don’t have to prep yourself for a prelim.”
While their lead-up has been impeccable, past experience has taught the Roos to be wary of their grand final foe.
Last year’s preliminary final victory was their first finals win over the Dragons in eight years.
It also snapped a seven-game losing streak against Sandhurst spread across three seasons.
While their semi-final win made it 3-0 for the Roos against the Dragons this season, the margin served as a reminder to the Dragons’ potency and potential.
“They are playing some really good netball,” Sartori acknowledged.
“Obviously, you don’t win four premierships in a row for no reason, so we know it’s going to be a really tough battle.
“We love playing Sandhurst, and even though they weren’t there last year, losing that premiership and the ones in 2019 and 2022, always puts a bit of extra fire in the belly.
“We’re keen to play our best netball Saturday and take home that cup.”

Pushed further on the grand final losses, Sartori intimated that time had not dulled the pain, saying they still cut deeply to this day.

“Especially with the core group that has hung around after so many years, to not get the success we want, it does really sting,” she said.

“I am really proud we have stuck together and continued to build every year.

“For the longest time, they have had the wood over us, so for us to beat them every game so far this year is massive for our confidence.

“I really want us to take it home this year for the girls who have stuck around.”
Sartori is one of three players to have played in all three grand final losses, alongside Milly Wicks and Ingrid Hopkins.
Pinpointing the differences between this and past seasons, it’s impossible to go past the impressive inclusions to the playing roster this season.

The Roos turned heads last October when it was announced club favourite Ruby Barkmeyer would be returning to Dower Park after five years in the Melbourne Vixens system.

Further good news arrived months later with the signing of VNL star Teal Hocking and the return of experienced defender Alicia McGlashan from South Bendigo.

The injection of big-game and higher-level experience and skill, and in Hocking’s case youthful exuberance, was just what the doctor ordered for a team looking to get over the hump.

“They are massive inclusions,” Sartori said.

“You can’t go past someone like Teal Hocking, who is still only 21, but looks like she has been playing A-grade netball and even VNL netball for a really long time.
“She is so calm under pressure, a great shot and hardly misses. And to bring back Ruby with her experience at such a high level, it brings so much to the group.
“They strengthen our attack end so much.
“Bringing Alicia back, with her experience in our defensive end, she has been amazing for the younger players.

“We’ve been waiting nine years to hold the cup up – I was only 19 the last time we did it and I’m 28 now, so it’s been a long time between drinks you could say.

“We want to play our best netball and we want it to get it done.”