Terrific Tonny: All three Tongala senior netball sides competed in Saturday’s Murray Netball League grand finals at Moama. Pictured are (from left) B-grade’s Abbey Nexhip, A-grade coach Grace Hammond and C-grade skipper Ashlee Watson were hoping to create history, but it was only the A-grade team managed to win the day. Nexhip and Watson did not walk away empty-handed, both winning league best and fairest awards in their respective divisions. Photo: Josh Huntly
Photo by
Josh Huntly
For two of Tongala’s A-grade flag-winners, the Blues’ drought-breaking triumph was a family affair.
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For young defender Gemma Brennan in her first top-grade decider, it was a performance to savour, taking out best-on-court honours in her first grand final.
However, for her aunt Alicia White, it was a perfectly scripted finish to an extraordinary career.
The 46-year-old country netball star bowed out a winner, helping Tongala claim its first A-grade netball premiership in 14 years.
Once that task was complete, White knew that it was the perfect note to end a career that spanned around 30 years, confirming her retirement post-game.
After flags in 2002 and 2009, it was a fairytale ending that White and the swathe of Tonny faithful that revere her were hoping for.
And she got to do it with her two nieces, Meg and Gemma Brennan, a privilege White was understandably emotional about on reflection.
“This is my fairytale,” White said.
“I’m so emotional about the whole thing. To finish at Tonny, where I started, playing with Gemma and Meg and having the club welcome me back has been unbelievable.
“Your first flag’s always really special. But this one to finish off and do it with my two nieces is just the best thing.”
White brought an experienced hand to proceedings when Tongala needed it most and she was pleased to see the side repel a stern Lions challenge.
“Conditions were hot. We knew Mul were going to come no matter what. They were coming off two finals wins,” she said.
“Their intensity was going to keep coming, and we just had to maintain our centres and that anything was a bonus.
“We made hard work of it in that first part. I think our nerves were just trying to settle.”
But when they did, the Blues kept their opposition at arm’s length.
“We just started to tick it over,” White said.
“We stuck to our game plan. Even when we were down, we went back to our basic game style.
“For me, the most pleasing thing is that all 10 of us got on the court at some point, which shows the depth and character of the players we have in the team.”
For Brennan, 19, best-on-court honours were thoroughly deserved after a supreme showing in the Blues’ backcourt.
But the treasured memories of winning a flag with her sister and aunt was a special result for the rising star.
“It was awesome. I never thought it would happen, to be honest,” she said.
“The fact that it did is so good. It was pretty hot, but we kept ticking over and not stopping.”
Family affair: Alicia White (centre) with nieces Meg (left) and Gemma Brennan after the Tongala premiership. Photo: Josh Huntly
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