Sport
18 September, 2023
Dog days aren’t over as Avoca are back on top
CARISBROOK (39) def by AVOCA (51) Meatloaf and grand final day famously don’t get along, but tell that to this group of Avoca A grade netballers, who’ll tell you that two out of three ain’t bad. Their 12-goal victory over previously unbeaten...
CARISBROOK (39) def by AVOCA (51)
Meatloaf and grand final day famously don’t get along, but tell that to this group of Avoca A grade netballers, who’ll tell you that two out of three ain’t bad.
Their 12-goal victory over previously unbeaten Carisbrook was a return to the summit for the Bulldogs, who ended up narrowly missing out on taking all three senior netball premierships throughout the afternoon, yet it was the A grade decider that was cherished the most.
It meant that it was two flags out of three attempts for the Bulldogs, with their last win also coming against Carisbrook in 2019.
But it was a 12-month campaign from the Bulldogs to ensure that they were able to win back the trophy after having their 45-game winning run snapped by Natte Bealiba in last year’s preliminary final, while Carisbrook came in desperate to finally break their 24-year hoodoo.
It was Carisbrook which made the stronger start initially, with the midcourt helping the Redbacks feed Andrea Schafer and Paige McLean with precision in the early stages.
Four consecutive goals helped the Redbacks establish an early 7-3 lead, but when Avoca hit back, they hit back hard.
It was the work of Stacey Blair who helped get the Bulldogs into the game, with her ability to help feed Maddy Egan helping her gain position in front of Carisbrook goalkeeper Elise Mottram, and the Bulldogs — traditional slow starters, in the words of Egan — hit the front with seven of the next eight goals.
Carisbrook were able to regroup shortly after, and were again able to hit the front after scoring five of the next six goals, but the last three goals of the quarter, including a goal to Egan on the siren, helped Avoca take a one-goal lead into the first change.
Avoca burst out of the blocks with eight of the first nine goals of the second term. The midcourt defensive pressure of Lucy Howell and Elisa Pica was helping restrict the Redbacks’ methodical ball movement, and defensive duo Keisha Tonzing and Caitlin Drummond were also in the mood to ensure McLean and Schafer weren’t getting easy shots.
At the other end, Blair’s feeding to Egan was elite, helping the Dogs’ leader gain many shots right under the goal ring.
It was a brutal six-minute run which allowed Avoca to dictate the pace, and the minor premiers were in desperate trouble.
Try as they might, the Redbacks were just unable to get their offensive game going, and trailed by six goals at the main break.
The Redbacks desperately needed to get the first handful of goals of the third quarter to make it a contest, and were able to reduce the margin to four goals early on thanks to goals from
Schafer and McLean. By the four-minute mark, the margin was back to a manageable three goals.
The rest of the quarter proved to be an intense battle, with the Redbacks looking to do everything possible to close the gap. They had their best quarter of the day, scoring 13 goals, but Avoca were keeping them at arm’s length, and led by four goals at the final change.
The last quarter was all Avoca as they ran away with the game in the opening half of the last term, scoring six of the first eight goals to re-establish an eight-goal margin, and eventually, they were able to career away and win by 12 goals.
Blair’s effectiveness, passing and her experience all came in handy throughout the afternoon, and was rewarded with the best on court medallion.
THE COACHES' SAY
At Avoca, Maddy Egan, along with mother, Kerry, is now a two-time A grade premiership playing-coach, and she says it was the culmination of 12 months of work which was rewarded with a 12-goal victory over Carisbrook.
“It’s amazing. At the start of the year, we all built towards a goal and worked towards it, even through some injuries, which made it look difficult. We got through it and put it together in the end,” she said.
Maddy was complimentary of the form of her players across the court.
“It’s about our core group sticking together from 2019. We’ve had two out since then and two come in, with Gina Beavis and Keisha Tonzing,” she said.
“But we’ve largely stuck together for four years, even through COVID and half a year off, and losing last year. To come back and win it is unreal.
“It comes down to the chemistry in midcourt. We’ve swapped around some positions at times and it just didn’t make a difference, as they play so well together. Elisa Pica’s experience and speed, and Stacey Blair and Lucy Howell’s know-how to slow it down when they needed to, was brilliant.
“Gina knows what to do to help the ball get into the goal circle, and she does what she has to as well. For us, it’s about equal balance and working hard, and she worked extremely hard.
“Caitlin Drummond and Keisha Tonzing play the same way, and for them to come together mid-season and gel like they have has been an outstanding effort. Their talk as well has been good — Caitlin never usually talked beforehand, and now she doesn’t stay quiet on the court.”
Unbelievably, Avoca claimed two of the three senior netball premierships on offer, and narrowly missed out by a goal on claiming the clean sweep.
It’s something that helped Maddy ease some nerves before her grand final.
“I’m glad we had our B and C grade playing — I wasn’t feeling too nervous as I had too much on by focusing on them,” she said.
Maddy and Kerry will go around again for Avoca, with the aim of back-to-back premierships the clear goal.
“Mum and I couldn’t imagine not coaching these girls, they’re a fantastic group, they do everything we ask of them and it showed, getting all three to the grand final for two wins,” she said.
