MITIAMO marked a premiership-winning double on the netball court at the Bendigo Loddon Valley Football Netball League’s grand final day on Saturday at Calivil.
The Superoos captured their first A-grade premiership since 2012 after a hotly-contested match against Newbridge.
Although Mitiamo was flag favourite, especially after an 18-goal victory against the Maroons in the qualifying final, it was Newbridge which started the season decider strongly.
Newbridge coach and goalshooter Jane Reid scored 10 goals in the opening term as the Maroons led 14-10 at the first break.
The Superoos’ fightback was sparked by a brilliant second quarter by goalshooter Lucy Morcom as she scored 10 goals to put her team within three goals by half-time.
Mitiamo’s slick teamwork, timely intercepts and accurate goaling meant it won the third quarter by eight goals.
The Maroons faced a five-goal deficit going into the last quarter, but kept working hard.
Led by the play of goal attack Laura Hicks, Morcom as goalshooter, and strong contributions from all team-mates, the Kylie Piercy-coached Mitiamo went on to record a memorable 58-51 victory.
The best player medal was presented to Superoos captain Laura Hicks.
It was Piercy’s first premiership as an A-grade coach in a season where Mitiamo’s grand final capped a run of 12 consecutive victories.
A three-time winner of the Helen Ward Medal as the A-grade best and fairest, Hicks had great support throughout the season and in the grand final from the likes of Bri Maddern at goal defence, centre Amelia Ludeman, and mid-courter and vice-captain Gabe Marlow.
Best for Newbridge were Leah Dixon at wing defence, goalkeeper Tracy O’Donnell, and midcourt star Rachel Pettifer.
In attack, Reid achieved a team-high 30 goals to cap her first season as A-grade coach at Newbridge FNC.
Mitiamo’s A-grade premiership line-up for the 2019 season:
Laura Hicks (captain), Gabrielle Marlow (vice captain), Amelia Ludeman (vice captain), Sarah Ludeman, Brianna Maddern, Lucy Morcom, Stella Calder, Kelly Pay, Kiani Stewart, Kylie Piercy (coach).
The lead-up to the A-grade match included the B-grade clash between Mitiamo and Newbridge.
It was the Superoos who celebrated a 41-34 victory.
Newbridge won the C-reserve match against Maiden Gully YCW by 11 goals.
Maiden Gully YCW Eagles marked a great finish to the season by being premiers in C-grade, 17-under and 15-under.
Fans witnessed a thrilling finish to the 17-under decider as the Eagles fought for a 43-42 win against Calivil United.
The rising stars from Calivil United achieved a historic win as they became the first premiers in the LVFNL’s 13-under netball competition.
Calivil United won a highly-enertaining match against Pyramid Hill by 12 goals.
Loddon Valley FNL netball grand final scoreboard:
A-grade: Mitiamo 58 d Newbridge 51.
B-grade: Mitiamo 41 d Newbridge 34.
C-grade: Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 44 d Bridgewater 35.
C-reserve: Newbridge 44 d Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 33.
17-under: Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 43 d Calivil United 42.
15-under: Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 41 d Pyramid Hill 22.
13-under: Calivil United 28 d Pyramid Hill 16.