NETBALL GRAND FINALS PREVIEW | Sandhurst tries to stop flying Kangaroos on netball court
SANDHURST will try to stop Kangaroo Flat flying to another A-grade netball premiership in the Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL on Saturday.
The Dragons and Kangaroos will play at Queen Elizabeth Oval from 3.20pm.
Riding a 33-game winning streak, Kangaroo Flat is aiming to be unbeaten premiers two seasons in a row.
Last September the Jayden Cowling-coached Kangaroo Flat achieved an eight-goal victory against the Dragons to claim the A-grade cup for the first time since 2016.
Grand final week for the Kangaroos began with gun goal attack Ruby Barkmeyer polling 33 votes to claim the Betty Thompson Medal as the competition’s fairest and best.
A powerful line-up representing Kangaroo Flat includes captain Chelsea Sartori, a dual Thompson Medallist in the centre, and Ash Ryan who earnt the Medal when playing with Eaglehawk.
There’s also three medal wins among the Sandhurst squad as centre Shae Clifford was adjudged the league’s fairest and best last season, and the versatile Heather Oliver has won the title twice.
Kangaroo Flat’s run this season includes a 60-50 win on its court at Bendigo Mazda Oval in Dower Park against Sandhurst in round five, and a 64-60 victory against the maroon and blue at the QEO in round 14.
The Kangaroos won the second semi-final against Gisborne by 14 goals.
It’s been a more challenging stretch for the Tamara Gilchrist-coached Sandhurst.
After a 52-55 loss to Gisborne in the qualifying final the Dragons fired up to win the first semi against South Bendigo by 16 goals.
Gilchrist said the team gained plenty of confidence from a 47-43 win against Gisborne in last Saturday’s preliminary final.
“The girls worked incredibly hard across 60 minutes,” Gilchrist said in what was the club’s final hit-out against Gisborne which will play in Ballarat from ’27.
There’s plenty of experience on court and the sidelines for Sandhurst.
Gilchrist has a win-loss record of four-two in A-grade grand finals.
Key match-ups for Sandhurst include Ruby Turner at goal defence against the brilliance of Ruby Barkmeyer.
“Both are outstanding players and special to watch,” Gilchrist said.
In mid-court, Heather Oliver will start at wing defence against Ash Ryan.
At centre it will be Shae Clifford opposed to Chelsea Sartori.
Both were selected as centre and wing attack in the BFNL Team of the Year.
Gilchrist also praised the play of wing attack Meg Williams after the preliminary final win.
“Meg is an important playmaker for us. The way she was able to control momentum in the final minutes against Gisborne was superb.”
Now in his eighth season as A-grade coach, Jayden Cowling has ridden the highs and lows of the rivalry with Sandhurst.
“It’s a massive rivalry, not just in finals, but every time we play.
“They had the edge on us for a few years.”
Cowling said the Kangaroos’ ability to win contests and their workrate when not in possession played a big part in their success.
“A key is being able to settle, not have too many passing errors, but also force mistakes and capitalise on them.”
A formidable attacking combination of Barkmeyer and Teal Hocking will aim to cap the work in the other two-thirds of the court.
Club greats have been chosen to present the premiership Cup and medals.
For Sandhurst it’s Briona Giddings to present medals, and Rose Gallagher the cup.
Kangaroo Flat’s representatives will be Carly Bingham, medals, and Nina Cass, cup.
Kangaroo Flat’s team:
Teal Hocking GS/GA/WA; Ruby Barkmeyer GA/GS/WA; Abbey Ryan GS/GA; Ashley Ryan WA/C; Chelsea Sartori, C; Ava Lowndes GK/GD; Megan Wilson WD/GD; Alicia McGlashan GD/GK.
Coach: Jayden Cowling.
Sandhurst’s team:
Bec Smith GS; Kelsey Ralph GA/GS; Claire McGee GA/GS; Meg Williams WA/C; Shae Clifford C/WA; Heather Oliver WD/GD; Harriett Whiteacre GK/GD; Ruby Turner GD/GK; Darcy Williams WD/C; Sophie Jones (Shoebridge) GD/WD; Reese Gilchrist GA/GS; Lucy Sherrif WD/C.
Coach: Tamara Gilchrist.
Kangaroo Flat’s run to the A-grade grand final:
Rd 1: 42-39 v Gisborne at Melbourne North Truck Centre Oval, Gardiner Reserve.
Rd 2: 96-17 v Castlemaine at home, Bendigo Mazda Oval, Dower Park.
Rd 3: 70-36 v Eaglehawk at C and M Oval, Canterbury Park.
Rd 4: 95-16 v Broadford at Marist College Bendigo.
Rd 5: 60-50 v Sandhurst at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
Rd 6: 82-44 v Golden Square at Bendigo Mazda Oval, Dower Park.
Rd 7: bye.
Rd 8: 81-48 v South Bendigo at Harry Trott Oval, Kennington.
Rd 9: 71-40 v Strathfieldsaye at Bendigo Mazda Oval, Dower Park.
Rd 10: 57-47 v Gisborne at Bendigo Mazda Oval, Dower Park.
Rd 11: 105-28 v Castlemaine at The Railway Hotel Oval, Camp Reserve.
Rd 12: 59-47 v Eaglehawk at Bendigo Mazda Oval, Dower Park.
Rd 13: 106-16 v Broadford at Harley Hammond Reserve.
Rd 14: 64-60 v Sandhurst at Bendigo Mazda Oval, Dower Park.
Rd 15: 88-47 v Golden Square at Gourmet Pantry Oval.
Rd 16: bye.
Rd 17: 82-57 v South Bendigo at Bendigo Mazda Oval, Dower Park.
Rd 18: 81-38 v Strathfieldsaye at Triple M Park.
Second semi-final: 51-37 v Gisborne at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
Sandhurst’s run to the A-grade grand final:
Rd 1: 56-35 v Eaglehawk at C and M Oval, Canterbury Park.
Rd 2: 99-28 v Broadford at home, Queen Elizabeth Oval.
Rd 3: bye.
Rd 4: 72-47 v Golden Square at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
Rd 5: 50-60 v Kangaroo Flat at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
Rd 6: 60-47 v South Bendigo at Harry Trott Oval, Kennington.
Rd 7: 68-31 v Strathfieldsaye at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
Rd 8: 44-40 v Gisborne at Melbourne North Truck Centre Oval, Gardiner Reserve.
Rd 9: 70-37 v Castlemaine at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
Rd 10: 69-31 v Eaglehawk at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
Rd 11: 97-12 v Broadford at Harley Hammond Reserve, Broadford.
Rd 12: bye.
Rd 13: 70-49 v Golden Square at Gourmet Pantry Oval, Wade Street.
Rd 14: 60-64 v Kangaroo Flat at Bendigo Mazda Oval, Dower Park.
Rd 15: 53-42 v South Bendigo at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
Rd 16: 88-26 v Strathfieldsaye at Triple M Park.
Rd 17: 40-44 v Gisborne at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
Rd 18: 77-31 v Castlemaine at The Railway Hotel Oval, Camp Reserve.
Qualifying final: 52-55 v Gisborne at Harry Trott Oval, Kennington.
First semi-final: 72-56 v South Bendigo at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
Preliminary final: 47-43 v Gisborne at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
In A-reserve it will be Kangaroo Flat against South Bendigo from 1.55pm.
It’s a clash of siblings as Jayden Cowling is co-coach of Kangaroo Flat with Ash Ryan, and Jayden’s sister, Lauren Bowles is playing coach for South Bendigo.
Mid-court ace Ella Wicks from Kangaroo Flat polled 25 votes to earn the Jenni Holborn Medal as league fairest and best for the second year in a row.
The Roos also had Ava Hamilton and Jess Holdstock earn 13 and 10 votes in the medal race.
South Bendigo’s leaders in the medal tally were Sarah Nash, 14; Olivia Treloar, 13; and Lauren Bowles, 10.
A record of 12 wins, one draw, one defeat put Kangaroo Flat on top of the ladder at the end of the home-and-away series.
South Bendigo was second on a 14-2 record.
In round eight, Kangaroo Flat scored a 61-40 win on South Bendigo’s court at Harry Trott Oval.
It was 43-42 in the way of the Kangaroos at Bendigo Mazda Oval in Dower Park in the 17th round.
The Kangaroos scored a 45-40 win against Gisborne in the second semi.
After a 49-50 loss to Gisborne in the qualifying final, South Bendigo hit back to win the first semi against Sandhurst by 18 goals.
The Bloods beat Gisborne in the preliminary final by five goals.
Kangaroo Flat:
Lani Burns GS/GA; Jess Holdstock GS; Ava Hamilton GA/GS/WA; Bella Pitto WA/C; Laynee Rhodes WA/C; Ella Wicks C/WA; Emma Moroney WD/C; Bronte Deary GD; Kate Burton GK/GD.
Coaches: Jayden Cowling, Ashley Ryan.
South Bendigo:
Kira Baldwin, Lauren Bowles, Carissa Brook, Shelley DeAraugo, Remi Kuhne, Olivia Mason, Amy Morrissey, Sarah Nash, Katelyn Parry, Olivia Treloar.
Coach: Lauren Bowles. Assistant coach: Amanda Walters.
The unbeaten Gisborne takes on Strathfieldsaye in the B-grade match from 12.30pm.
A strong Gisborne line-up includes Carol Bingham medallist Olivia Fenn and coach Rylee Connell who was joint runner-up for the league fairest and best award.
Gisborne scored a 56-33 win against Storm at Melbourne North Truck Centre Oval at Gardiner Reserve in round three.
The Bulldogs won on Strathfieldaye’s court at Triple M Park in round 12 by six goals.
These teams met in the second semi-final which went Gisborne’s way, 44-35.
The Jo Artavilla-coached Strathfieldsaye began the finals series with a 50-33 win against South Bendigo in the qualifying final.
After the second semi defeat, Storm hit back for a 35-34 win against Kangaroo Flat in the preliminary final.
Players to watch for Strathfieldsaye include Imogen Currie and captain Makayle Dole.
Gisborne:
Rylee Connell, Olivia Fenn, Charlotte McMurray, Georgia Murray, Monty Paton, Lily Prater, Phoebe Priest, Taylah Ranieri, Tarryn Rymer, Bridget Salder, Lulu Slater.
Coach: Rylee Connell.
Strathfieldsaye:
Bridget Abe, Chiara Artavilla, Maeve Cass, Chelsea Crapper, Imogen Currie, Makayle Dole, Sienna Eddy, Olivia Erwin, Macey Murphy, Macey O’Shea, Ella Pitson, Mackenzie Strawbridge.
Coach: Jo Artavilla. Assistant coach: Carlie Brennan.
In B-reserve it’s Gisborne against Kangaroo Flat from 11.05am.
These teams met in the second semi which Gisborne dominated for a 46-34 victory.
The previous week the Shelley Farrugia-coached Gisborne defeated South Bendigo in the qualifying final by 11 goals.
Stung by the second semi loss the Nina Cass-coached Kangaroo Flat bounced back to win the preliminary final against South Bendigo by 26 goals.
In the home-and-away series, Kangaroo Flat won the first-round clash in Gisborne by seven goals.
Gisborne scored a 52-50 victory on the Kangaroos’ court in the 10th round.
Kangaroos goalers’ Megan Kelly and Sophie Ingram earnt 17 and 14 votes as they went one-two in the race for the league’s fairest and best award.
Leading vote-getters at Gisborne were Holly Brewer, 14; Lily Prater and Bridget Salter, 13; and Shelley Farrugia, 11.
Gisborne’s team:
Holly Brewer, Macey Drayton, Shelley Farrugia, Sapphy McCarthy, Adele McKibbin, Monique McKibbin, Bec Merrett, Lily Prater, Bridget Salter, Polly Salter, Caytlyn Walker.
Coach: Shelley Farrugia.
Kangaroo Flat:
Laura Benbow GK/GA/WA; Karly Bingham WA/C; Peyton Chambers GA/GS, Madeline Dowling C/WA; Hannah Evans WD/GD; Sophie Ingram GS/GA; Meg Kelly GA/GS, Maggie Lamb C/WA, Lucy Lang GK; Ava McClure GD/WD; Kiarah Warren C/WA; Milana Whiteacre GD/GK.
Coach: Nina Cass. Assistant coach: Bonnie Roberts.
In the 17-and-under competition it’s Strathfieldsaye against Sandhurst from 9.40am.
The Fiona Schubert-coached Strathfieldsaye won the qualifying final against Golden Square by two goals and then beat Sandhurst in the second semi by four goals.
The Sandhurst team coached by Carol Cathcart and Rose Gallagher hit back for a 38-29 win against Golden Square in the preliminary final.
In the run to the finals the Dragons won the round seven clash with Storm at the QEO by 12 goals.
Sandhurst won at Triple M Park by nine goals in the round 16 showdown.
A big week for Sandhurst defender Ese Phillips tipped off by polling 17 votes to earn the Carol Sing Medal as league fairest and best.
Key players in the maroon and blue include Mila Childs, Blessing John and Sienna Raco.
Talented defender Lexie Fennell polled 19 votes in the Sing Medal race and was the league’s best in representative matches.
Storm’s squad includes Lexi Arundell, Sophie McDermott, Dempsey McDonnell and Chloe Tweed.
Strathfieldsaye’s team:
Lexi Arundell, Lexie Fennell, Chella Fitzgerald, Forest Jackson-Leahy, Rania Jackson-Leahy, Sophie McDermott, Dempsey McDonnell, Ady Neilson, Eden Pollard, Matisse Sheahan, Chloe Tweed, Darcey Whithead.
Coach: Fiona Schubert. Assistant coach: Julie Fennell.
Sandhurst’s team:
Mila Childs, Mia Cox, Sarah Crowley, Elle Gilchrist, Eva Grant, Evie Gretgrix, Blessing John, Ese Phillips, Sienna Raco, Maycee Rinaldi, Lilly Teuma.
Coaches: Carol Cathcart and Rose Gallagher.
A league first will be the 15-and-under grand final between Sandhurst and South Bendigo from 8.15am.
The Reese Gilchrist-coached Sandhurst won the second semi-final against Golden Square by 14 goals.
After a 10-goal loss to Golden Square in the qualifying final, South Bendigo hit back for a 12-goal win against Eaglehawk in the first semi.
The Rox Hayes-coached Bloods clinched a 40-39 victory against Golden Square in the preliminary final.
Sandhurst won the regular season matches with the Bloods by 52 and 32 goals.
A tally of 18 votes earnt Elle Gilchrist the league’s fairest and best award.
A strong team in maroon and blue includes Alana Borchard, Harper Gordon and Ellie Macumber.
Leading vote-winners for the young Bloods in the league award were Inca Bolton, Perry Westley and Indie Colley.
Sandhurst’s team:
Alana Borchard, Alexis Caruana, Alicia Crowley, Elke Fletcher, Elle Gilchrist, Harper Gordon, Ruby Kelly, Eliza Main, Ellie Macumber, Christina Napoleon, Macey White.
Coach: Reese Gilchrist.
South Bendigo’s team:
Inca Bolton, Bella Cail, Laila Cail, Indie Colley, Lily Diss, Emily Dullard, Eily Ellis-Fedke, Lily Hearps, Ivy Pinner, Emmalene Pollock, Ruby Polson, Harper Smith, Perry Westley.
Coach: Rox Hayes.
Schedule for Saturday’s grand finals at Queen Elizabeth Oval in View Street, Bendigo:
15-and-under at 8.15am: Sandhurst v South Bendigo.
17-and-under at 9.40am: Strathfieldsaye v Sandhurst.
B-reserve at 11.05am: Gisborne v Kangaroo Flat.
B-grade at 12.30pm: Gisborne v Strathfieldsaye.
A-reserve at 1.55pm: Kangaroo Flat v South Bendigo.
A-grade at 3.20pm: Kangaroo Flat v Sandhurst.
