Sport
10 September, 2024
Swans get the better of Lexton in physical prelim
NATTE BEALIBA (59) def LEXTON (50)
There was certainly no love lost in what was a physical preliminary final affair between those old Lexton League rivals, Natte Bealiba and Lexton, but it was the Swans who came out victorious after a big final-quarter surge.
For much of the day, it was effectively goal-for-goal, but big defensive plays from Ellie Martin and Toni Bucknall — who helped fill a near-irreplaceable void left by Naomi Medlyn — helped the Swans progress through to a grand final, where another big rival will greet them — Avoca.
The Swans got off to a great start early on as they jumped the Tigers, who also had to negotiate an ankle tweak from playing-coach Leesa Donhardt.
To their credit, Rachel Phelan and Kimberley Roberts stepped up for the Tigers, and reduced what was a four-goal margin back down to two by the opening change, with Natte leading 14 goals to 12.
The second quarter was a beauty, with both teams absolutely throwing everything to the cause, diving for loose balls and leaving nothing to chance.
Perhaps there was no better example than Lexton’s Cara Eastick, who did get a knock to the elbow in a fall, but was able to get back onto the court after some running repairs, highlighting just how physical the game was.
On the scoreboard, there was very little to separate the two teams. It was Natte who led by three goals, however, thanks to a 13-goal to 12 quarter.
Lexton had the momentum as the third quarter started, and they were able to go on a little run which saw them hit the front.
However, there would be two game-changing moments which would help turn the tide back in Natte’s favour.
Firstly, a terrific intercept from Bucknall stopped Phelan from what would have been an almost certain goal, running back with the flight of the ball.
Minutes later, Donhardt had a chance to put the ball up for an easy shot on goal, but with the perceived pressure from the Natte defence, elected to pass instead, where it was turned over.
Emma Ryan scored from the resultant turnover, and Natte went on a run to finish off the third term, winning the quarter 15 goals to 14 and leading by four at the final change.
Natte channeled their momentum into the final term by dominating the first handful of minutes, allowing them to make changes where needed, while Lexton suffered a further blow when Eastick had a shoulder injury and was forced off the court a second time.
In the end, the Swans would score 17 goals to 12 to finish nine-goal winners in a contest that was far more tense and close than the scoreboard suggested.
Ryan scored 53 goals for the Swans, while Polly Douglas added four and Shannae Mills two.
For the Tigers, Phelan scored 38 goals, while Donhardt added eight and Roberts four.
An ecstatic playing-coach Ryan spoke of her relief in bringing the Swans back into the grand final for the first time in two years.
“I can’t even explain it — I haven’t been to a grand final since I was 18, which was 13 years ago, so I’m over the moon. We really had to push — they stuck with us for three quarters and we put the foot down in the last term. I couldn’t be prouder of all of our nine girls that got on the court,” she said.
“It’s huge. I’ve never been involved in a club with senior football and senior netball being in together. All of this week is going to be nuts.”
With much of the focus throughout the last two weeks on how to replace Medlyn, Ryan praised the work of Bucknall and Martin.
“I wasn’t sure what the best option was leading in, but I was happy with Toni Bucknall’s performance, and also with Ellie Martin — she hasn’t played a lot of goal defence either, so it’s a credit to both of them too,” she said.
“Also, Maddison Farrell and Ella Tranter on the outside, they filled a defensive hole.
“Ellie really has done well. It was a bit of a foreign position for her this year — she’s played goalkeeper from about round four onwards. To shift her position — it’s a very different game to play — and the way she came out and took it with two hands, I’m just proud of her.”
Ryan said the midcourters finally released the shackles when the game needed to be won, and hopes they’ll take that momentum into next week.
“Our midcourters took all day to get the groove, but in that last quarter, they were sighting me well and giving the ball when it was there. It’s what we needed to do,” she said.
“Anything can happen in a grand final. Avoca will be tough to beat, but we’ll put our best foot forward.
“Across all seven positions on the court, it will be an absolute cracker, and we know we will have to bring our absolute best.
“We have probably been the two best teams this year, but more often than not, it doesn’t normally pan out that way for a grand final meeting, so I think this is how it is supposed to be.”