Eagles aim to deny Mitiamo back-to-back premierships
MAIDEN Gully YCW Eagles will strive to deny Mitiamo back-to-back A-grade netball premierships when they clash in this Saturday’s grand final in the Bendigo Bank Loddon Valley Football Netball League.
The Eagles will have home-court advantage for the clash with the Superoos at Marist College Bendigo in Maiden Gully.
It’s two-one in favour of Maiden Gully YCW Eagles going into the season decider, but the most recent clash ended in a win for Mitiamo.
In the run to the finals, the Christie Griffiths-coached Eagles soared to a 67-54 victory against Mitiamo at Marist College Bendigo in the seventh round.
Next showdown was in the 16th round where Maiden Gully YCW won 58-47 on Mitiamo’s court at John Forbes Oval.
The Lauren Hicks-coached Mitiamo started its finals campaign by scoring a 57-41 victory against Marong in the qualifying final on the Panthers’ court at Marong’s Malone Park.
A week later and the Superoos stunned Maiden Gully YCW in a 59-54 win for Mitiamo in the second semi-final at Gadsden Finance Serpentine Reserve.
The Eagles bounced back for a 56-52 victory against Calivil United in the preliminary final at Holloway Air Riverside Oval in Newbridge.
There are many outstanding players in the Superoos and Eagles line-ups.
Key players for Mitiamo include Amelia Ludeman, Sarah Bateman, Alicia Hay, and Laura Hicks, a multiple winner of the league’s fairest and best player award.
Also in the Superoos’ squad are Abbey Battersby, Taylah Diss, Laura Falls, Emma and Kelly Pay, and Carly Scholes.
Winner of the Helen Ward Medal as this season’s league best and fairest, Tia Webb has had a great run in attack.
Runner-up for the league’s top individual honour was Meg Patterson who forms a strong attacking combination with Webb for the Eagles.
Other players to watch in the orange and blue strip are captain and centre Leisa Barry, Tiarni Baxter, Laura Butler, Rachael Gray and Christie Griffiths.
Also named in the Eagles squad were Laura Butler, Brianna Harris, Abby Powell and Jarrenhy Webb.
Bridgewater takes on Maiden Gully YCW Eagles in B-grade.
The Carolyn Wood-coached Bridgewater has won all three matches against the Eagles.
In round eight, Bridgewater won 41-40 at home and then motored to a 47-39 win at Maiden Gully in the 17th round.
A qualifying final showdown between the Mean Machine and Eagles ended in a 55-39 win for Bridgewater.
A week later and Bridgewater clinched a grand final berth after a dramatic 44-43 second semi-final win against Newbridge.
After being beaten in the qualifying final, the Christie Griffiths-coached Eagles struck back for a 38-36 result against Pyramid Hill in the first semi at Calivil.
The Eagles then beat Newbridge, 45-40 in the preliminary final on Newbridge’s court.
Key players for Bridgewater include captain Kirsten Galea, Dannielle Flood, Daisy Stringer, Aimie Brown and Alexandra Langley.
Also in the Mean Machine’s squad are Ashlee Bowen, Mia Burge, Piper Normoyle, Keira Lane, and Carolyn Wood.
The Eagles’ line-up includes Jarrenhy Webb who earned the Joy Lawry Medal as league fairest and best.
A big day for Maiden Gully YCW Eagles includes the C-grade team up against Bridgewater.
The Christina Gray-coached Eagles have beaten Bridgewater in all three clashes so far.
In round eight, Maiden Gully YCW won 46-34 at Bridgewater.
It was a 34-goal victory for the Eagles in the 17th round.
After finishing the regular season on top of the ladder, Maiden Gully YCW won the second semi-final against Bridgewater, 43-41.
The run for the Tamara Hayes-coached Bridgewater began with a 37-36 victory against Marong in the qualifying final, a second semi-final loss, and then 39-29 win against Marong in the preliminary final.
The Eagles’ line-up includes Shallon Webb, youngest of the three sisters playing for the club, as well as captain Olivia Hall, Christine Gray, Olivia McCartney, and Phoenix Pointon.
Also in the Maiden Gully YCW squad are Paige Barry, Skye Griffiths, Mackenzie Marsh, Stephanie Sheridan and Laura Suckling.
In C-reserve, Maiden Gully YCW faces Marong.
The Eagles have won all three clashes with the Panthers.
In round one Maiden Gully YCW won 50-34 at home and then 35-27 at Marong in the 10th round.
After a 36-34 victory against Newbridge in the qualifying final, Marong took on Maiden Gully YCW in the second semi which the Eagles won by a goal.
The Panthers earned another shot at the Eagles by scoring a 46-25 win in the preliminary final against Newbridge.
The Emily Myrnard-coached Eagles have Milly Burgess as captain and a team that includes Danielle Archer, Sarah Bibby, Kaitlyn Hall and Grace Pigdon.
Also in the Maiden Gully YCW squad are Sophie Hogan, Madi March, Olivia McCartney, Charli Pigdon and Tilly Suckling.
Marong is jointly coached by Georgie McGrath and Caitlyn O’Hara.
The Panthers are led on court by Tiana Cassar and have a strong team that includes Nicole Grant, Dani Jeffery, Chelsea Kenworthy, Kirra Sheppard and Shayla Thomson.
Also in Marong’s squad are Charlie Coghill, Katherine Loomes, Georgie McGrath, Caitlyn O’Hara, Sarah Stace and Erin Stewart.
A big day of coaching for Christie Griffiths begins with the 17-and-under match at noon when the Eagles take on Calivil United.
It was one-all between the young guns in the home-and-away series as the Eagles won 43-22 at Calivil in round six, and the Demons fired to a 35-31 win at Maiden Gully in the 15th round.
Next meeting between the grand finalists was the qualifying final where the Eagles won 50-37.
A second semi-final showdown between Maiden Gully YCW and Newbridge ended in a 47-31 win for the Eagles.
The Amy Ryan-coached Calivil United hit back from the qualifying final loss to score a 49-29 win against Bridgewater in the first semi and a 39-26 result against Newbridge in the preliminary final.
The Maiden Gully YCW team is captained by Skye Griffiths and includes Abbey Hosking, Emma Keating, Claire McGee and Charli Pigdon.
Also in the Eagles squad are Bronte Baxter, Anika Bysouth, Molli Dobeli and Matilda McGurk.
Players to watch for the Demons include Imogen Anset, Stephanie Demeo, Keira Lawry and Georgia Mangan.
The Demons also have Libby Clymo, Madi Lenton, Ava and Gemma Maxted, and Hollee Vinnicombe in their line-up.
Marong will play Pyramid Hill in the 15-and-under grand final.
The Panthers won the regular season games against Pyramid Hill by 42 and 19 goals and then marked a 49-29 victory in the second semi-final against the Bulldogs.
The Imogen Broad and Deb Dingwall-coached Pyramid Hill won a thrilling qualifying final against Maiden Gully YCW, 41-40, and then took on Marong a week later.
The Bulldogs stayed in the finals race after a 40-26 win in the preliminary final against Bears Lagoon Serpentine.
The Brittany Hercus-coached Marong has Charlie Coghill and Charli Crawford as co-captains of a team that includes Allegra Mahon, Mietta Sharman and Sienna Taylor.
Also in the Panthers team are Heidi Byrne, Shelby Burns, Jordan Korp, Lily Mensforth and Nikeya Olsen.
Pyramid Hill has Carolyn Fergusson as captain of a team that includes Kaitlin Broad, Shamica Castro, Cecily and Mia Farrar and Dempsey Lee.
Also in the red, white and blue will be Isabelle Caspani, Alina Gould and Eloise Walters.
The league’s youngest stars from Marong and Pyramid Hill will contest the 13-and-under grand final.
It’s two-one in favour of the Rebecca Turnbull-coached Marong going into the decider for the premiership cup.
Marong won 31-19 at home in round four, but the Bulldogs claimed a 26-23 win at Mitchell Park in the 13th round.
Latest meeting was the second semi in which Marong beat the Kirsty Twigg-coached Pyramid Hill, 26-22.
The Dogs’ run in the finals was a 23-21 victory against Mitiamo in the qualifying final, loss to Marong in the second semi, and 26-25 victory against Calivil United in the preliminary.
Lucy Coghill is captain of a Marong team that includes Chloe Bray, Dekoda Fitzpatrick, Allie Grant and Isabella Whelan.
Also in the Panthers squad are Emmersyn and Lahni Cope, Ashleigh Medhurst, Leah Nalder and Tannah Olsen.
Pyramid Hill is led on court by Alina Gould and a talented line-up includes Cecily Farrar, Dempsey Lee, Elsie and Laura Poole, and Sophie Twigg.
Also playing in the red, white and blue will be Xanthe Farr, Siri Harrison and Jamison Walters.
Schedule for Saturday’s grand finals at Marist College Bendigo in Maiden Gully:
15-and-under at 10.30am: Marong v Pyramid Hill.
17-and-under at 10.30am: Maiden Gully YCW Eagles v Calivil United.
13-and-under at noon: Marong v Pyramid Hill.
C-grade at 12pm: Maiden Gully YCW Eagles v Bridgewater.
C-reserve at 1.30pm: Maiden Gully YCW Eagles v Marong.
B-grade at 1.30pm: Bridgewater v Maiden Gully YCW Eagles.
A-grade at 3pm: Mitiamo v Maiden Gully YCW Eagles.
Written by Nathan Dole.
