Girgarre has earned another shot at the Kyabram District League’s leading A-grade netball team this season and will confront Lancaster on Saturday in the premiership decider.
Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content
The Kangaroos’ co-coaches Abbey Butler and Holly Nelson have now created history by guiding the team into their first ever A-grade KDL netball grand final.
Girgarre won three of the four quarters against Shepparton East on Saturday, at Tallygaroopna, cruising to a 10-goal victory in the end with a 19-8 second half.
The defensive work of Abigail Sergienko, who remained on the court for the entire game, in tandem with Allana Adams and Darcie Stammers set the tone for the 37-27 victory.
At the opposite end of the court a 16-goal first half from captain Jacqui Gahan was followed up by a strong contribution from her goaling partner Kim Hanratty in the second half.
Hanratty, who is often cast in the role as supplier to Gahan, shot eight goals in the second half to finish with 10 for the game.
Sheree Starling came onto the court midway through the second quarter, taking the centre bib from Holly Nelson, and had a major impact on the final result.
Nelson moved to wing attack, replacing Teah Ryan, while Stammers played the last quarter and a half in defence - alongside Sergienko.
Girgarre led by four goals at quarter time, but just just two at the long break before taking control in the second half.
Last season Girgarre finished fourth on the ladder and won its elimination final before being bundled out the following week by Dookie.
Lancaster finished 11th in the 14-team competition last year, winning just five of its 16 games. Apart from the qualifying final win by Lancaster the teams have played only one other time this season, in round nine when Lancaster won by 24 goals.
Both teams missed the finals in 2022.
– Girgarre’s C Reserve team has come from fifth on the ladder to win a place in the grand final against Tallygaroopna this weekend.
Girgarre finished with a 10-4 record after the home and away season, but has beaten Murchison-Toolamba (by four goals), Merrigum (by one goal) and Shepparton East (who finished on top, by two goals at Tallygaroopna in Saturday’s preliminary final) to win its way into the premiership decider.
In a thrilling game the Kangaroos and Shepparton East were tied at three quarter time after the lead changed twice at the first two breaks. The Eagles led by three at quarter time, but a 13-7 quarter gave Girgarre a three-goal lead at half time.
The teams were tied at the final break before an 11-9 final term gave the Kangaroos a 43-41 victory.
All 12 of the Kangaroos’ squad saw action in the final as the interchange was used constantly to produce a winning result.
Goal shooter Giulia Pulsoni and goal keeper Tatiana Taylor were the only players to register 100 per cent court time and Pulsoni finished the match with 28 goals. She had support from Caitlin Campbell, who spent only a short time off the court.
Co-captain Samantha Brinkman spent most of the game in the centre, while Kerisha Miles worked in tandem with Laura Graetz and Tess Brookman in the mid-court.
Taylor was supported in defence by Chloe Graham for most of the afternoon.
Late in the home and away season the Kangaroos lost to Tally by 21 goals, but has momentum on their side entering the grand final. The Kangaroos turned around an 18-goal round three result to beat Shepparton East in the preliminary final.
– Stanhope has come from the clouds in the last quarter of Saturday’s 17 & Under preliminary final to earn a shot at top team Merrigum in this weekend’s grand final.
The Lions beat Shepparton East by six goals at Tallygaroopna on Saturday, despite finishing the home and away season two rungs lower than their opponent.
Stanhope trailed by a goal at half time and faced a four-goal deficit at the final change. A brilliant final term from both the defensive and attacking units saw it outscore Shepparton East 16-6 in the final term for a 42-36 victory.
Isabella Pate and Matilda Schubach, the latter who only came onto the court in the final term, both shot eight goals as Ava Turner and Sophie Joyce kept the Eagles’ attacking unit in check.
Schubach replaced Charli Millerr (13 goals) in goals at three quarter time and worked with Pate (21 goals) to post the winning score.
Co-captains Tia Harrison and Charlotte Grealy worked with Bella Davis and Immoden Buntine in the mid-court to pave a way through to the grand final against Merrigum.
When the teams met in round seven this season it was a 17-goal win for Merrigum. Stanhope had won its two finals by six goals and eight goals in the lead up to Saturday, while Merrigum beat Shepparton East by six goals to win straight through to the grand final.
– Stanhope’s 15 & Under season ended in dramatic fashion on Saturday when extra time was required to decide its match-up with Tallygaroopna.
At full time the teams were tied on 29 goals apiece, but Tally got the upper hand in extra time and won the game 33-32.
The Lions finished the season third on the ladder and faced top team Tallygaroopna after winning through the first two weeks of the finals against Dookie (by 12 goals) and Girgarre (by nine goals).
Tallygaroopna lost its qualifying semi-final game with Murchison-Toolamba by nine goals.
In Saturday’s preliminary final the Lions made only one change during the course of the match as they trailed by one at quarter time and produced a quality second term to lead by one at the long break.
That lead was extended to two at the final change, but Tally squared the ledger again before winning in extra time.
Matilda Schubach shot all three of the Lions’ extra time goals and finished with 16 goals, supported by Amity Wright.
Captain Taylah Gray kept the defensive unit together with support from Layla Ratclffe and Brooke O’Shanassy.
– Top 13 & Under team Girgarre earned a shot at redemption by beating Nagambie in the preliminary final by seven goals on Saturday.
Girgarre lost its qualifying final by two goals to Tallygaroopna and the teams will now face off for the second time in three weekends - and third in six after clashing in round 15 - at Mooroopna in the grand final.
The Kangaroos led by two at quarter time and were unable to shake their opponents by half time, with two goals remaining the margin.
Nagambie challenged its more favoured opponent in the third and took a two-goal lead into the final term, when a six-goal quarter by goaler Indi Dove saw the Kangaroos win the quarter 9-2.
Girgarre used all nine of its squad in the game, Ruby McMeekan remaining at goal keeper for the entire four quarters. She had support from Gemma Tomasini, who also played in the mid-court.
Cassidy Fletcher worked with Dove in goals, along with Daisy Woodcock and Jorja Saunders spent most of the game on a wing.
Kyabram Free Press and Campaspe Valley News editor