BY NATHAN DOLE
Kangas aim to deny Hay ultimate glory
ULTIMA will be striving to deny Hay a first when they meet in the Golden Rivers senior footy grand final on Saturday in Hay.
As the Roos chase an 11th premiership and first since 2015, Hay is aiming to be back-to-back premiers for the first time.
The season decider kicks off at 2.30pm in the Lions’ den and is a rematch of the ’23 grand finalists.
A 15-1 run by Hay across the home-and-away series included 13 consecutive victories.
Hay’s streak was broken on Ultima’s turf in the 14th round as the Roos bound their way to an 88-64 victory.
Most recent showdown between Hay and Ultima was the second semi-final at Wandella.
That clash went Hay’s way, 101-52.
Ultima bounced back to score an 18-goal win in last Saturday’s preliminary final against Wandella on the Kangaroos’ ground.
A strong attack for Hay is led by Declan Watson, 62 goals.
Other key targets for the Lions include Kenneth Jubb, 37; Jack Cattanach, 26; William Collis, 23; and Jack Headon, 20.
It was Declan Watson and Jack Headon who led Hay’s attack on four and three goals in the second semi-final victory.
Key players in the Hay line-up include Jack Cattanach in the centre; ruck-rover Jacob Watson; Brad Pocock, Nathan Wilson and Daniel Zambon in defence; ruckman James Moran, Bentley Murphy and Daniel Stewart.
Ultima’s top goalkicker is Ryan Devereux on 61.
Next best are Ricky Wild, 22; Matt Taverna, 18, and Jay Reynolds 17.
The Kangaroos’ squad for the season decider includes Caillum Brady and Thomas Bull on the half-back flanks, rover Jake Foster, Mitch and Tyler Makepeace, ruckman Jye Purtill, Ed Kuchel and Mitch Seton-Stewart on a wing.
The Lions’ run in ’24:
Round 1: d Murrabit, 121-48 at Hay.
Round 2: d Moulamein, 92-24 at Moulamein.
Round 3:d Macorna, 121-43 at Macorna.
Round 4: d Ultima, 40-23 at Hay.
Round 5: d Wandella, 111-49 at Hay.
Round 6: d Murrabit, 158-21 at Murrabit.
Round 7: d Moulamein, 82-29 at Moulamein.
Round 8: d Macorna, 184-14 at Hay.
Round 9:d Ultima, 67-57 at Hay.
Round 10: d Wandella, 118-42 at Wandella.
Round 11: d Murrabit, 159-40 at Murrabit.
Round 12: d Moulamein, 123-9 at Hay.
Round 13: d Macorna, 181-20 at Hay.
Round 14: lt Ultima, 64-88 at Ultima.
Round 15: d Wandella, 127-51 at Wandella.
Round 16: d Murrabit, 83-37 at Hay.
Second semi-final: d Ultima, 101-52 at Wandella.
The Kangaroos’ path in ’24:
Round 1: d Moulamein, 124-24 at Ultima.
Round 2: d Wandella, 138-76 at Wandella.
Round 3: d Murrabit, 112-25 at Ultima.
Round 4: lt Hay, 23-40 at Hay.
Round 5: d Macorna, 104-49 at Macorna.
Round 6: d Moulamein, 109-56 at Ultima.
Round 7: d Wandella, 114-34 at Ultima.
Round 8: d Murrabit, 96-52 at Murrabit.
Round 9: lt Hay, 57-67 at Hay.
Round 10: d Macorna, 83-8 at Ultima.
Round 11: d Moulamein, 94-55 at Moulamein.
Round 12: d Wandella, 58-21 at Ultima.
Round 13: d Murrabit, 117-16 at Murrabit.
Round 14: d Hay, 88-64 at Ultima.
Round 15: d Macorna, 158-45 at Ultima.
Round 16: d Moulamein, 93-11 at Moulamein.
Second semi-final: lt Hay, 52-101 at Wandella.
Preliminary final: d Wandella, 133-25 at Ultima.
In the reserves competition, Ultima tackles Murrabit from 12.35pm.
Ultima will be aiming to cap an unbeaten run to the premiership.
The Roos’ run includes a 92-8 victory against Murrabit in round three in Ultima, and 89-37 result on the Blues’ round in the eighth round.
The round 13 showdown included a 48-43 win for the Roos in Murrabit.
Most recent hit-out between the grand finalists was the second semi-final where Ultima fought on for a 54-48 win in Wandella.
Best for Ultima in that match were Angus Hinton, James Summerhayes, Kade Benfield and Jayden Kiel.
The Blues’ best that day were Darcy Hetherington, Riley Carse, Josh Bray and Teeraphat Khongpheung.
Murrabit bounced back for a 74-9 win against Hay in last Saturday’s preliminary final.
In the under-17 ½ competition it will be Macorna against Ultima from 10.15am.
Macorna won two of three matches against the Kangaroos across the home-and-away series.
The Tigers won 51-16 in round five, and 114-10 in Ultima in the 10th round.
Ultima will have gained plenty of confidence from the 45-36 win at home against Macorna in round 15.
The Tigers won the second semi-final against Wandella by 32 points as Will Meharry kicked three goals and Jaxon O’Rourke and Broden Wishart chipped in with two.
Ultima kicked off its finals campaign by scoring a 129-point win against Hay and followed up with a 36-31 victory against Wandella in the preliminary final.
Grand final day kicks off with the under-14 ½ match between Murrabit and Hay from 8.55am.
A 14-2 record meant Murrabit ended the home-and-away series on top spot.
Hay was second on a 13-3 tally.
It was two-all when they met in the run to the finals.
Murrabit won by margins of 30 and 50 points in rounds one and six.
The Lions fired up for a 28-16 win in Murrabit in the 11th round and then won 20-14 in round 16 on the Hay ground.
In the second semi-final, Murrabit marked a 29-25 win against Hay in Wandella.
Best for the Blues were Leo Ellison, Xavier Murray, Jobe and Xavier Hein.
Hay’s best were Noa Koroi, Max Hutchings, Liam Young and Kyper Woods.
The Lions gained another crack at Murrabit as it won the preliminary final against Wandella by 23 points.
Four of the league’s six clubs feature in the netball grand finals.
Hay will be represented in four play-offs.
The Lions will be up against Murrabit in A-grade.
A 15-1 record in the home-and-away series means Murrabit will start favourite in the match which matters most.
The Blues’ four clashes with Hay included wins by 22, eight, 40, and three goals.
Murrabit won the second semi-final against Ultima by 11 goals.
A 12-goal win for Hay in the first semi against Moulamein was followed by a 52-49 victory against Ultima in the preliminary final.
Schedule for Saturday’s netball grand finals in Hay:
17-and-under at 9.45am, court one: Ultima v Hay.
B-reserve at 11.15am, court one: Hay v Ultima.
14-and-under at 11.15am, court two: Murrabit v Hay.
C-grade at 12.55pm, court two: Wandella v Murrabit.
B-grade at 12.55pm, court one: Murrabit v Ultima.
A-grade at 2.35pm, court one: Murrabit v Hay.