By David Nagel
Will Nar Nar Goon reach its first grand final in the brief history of the West Gippsland Football Netball Competition (WGFNC)…or will Tooradin-Dalmore return to a stage it has made its own over the years?
That’s the big question on everyone’s lips when the Seagulls and Goon collide in a massive preliminary final battle at Dalyston on Saturday.
Winning premierships is a bit like winning Tattslotto – you can’t win unless you’ve got a ticket – and that’s the sumptuous prize on offer for both clubs this weekend.
The Seagulls have played in three of the last four grand finals made available to them, in 2017, ’18, ’19, while the Goon is looking to progress past the preliminary final stage for the first time in the WGFNC – after falling at this hurdle in 2019.
Both teams will come in confident, with Tooradin pushing Inverloch-Kongwak to rise to its brilliant best in last week’s grand final qualifier, while the Goon has been super-impressive in back-to-back finals wins over Kooweerup and Dalyston.
The Goon showed real intensity at the ball carrier against the Magpies last week, with each intercept being cheered like a grand final victory.
Pressure was applied right across the court, with Kyra Esler (GS) and Steph Lee (GA) the key beneficiaries of that output.
The Goon looked like a team with a real focus and commitment to each other, with no weak link on the court.
But, if they want to win, they’ll have to bring that level to the table against a ruthless Seagulls outfit this weekend.
The Seagulls, under coach Kelly Haynes, have a reputation for playing a hard brand of netball…and they won’t be taking backward step on Saturday.
They know what it takes to win finals, and big finals at that, with players like Alex Maher (GA), Ebony Mason (GK), Eb Dolan (GD), Jess Maher (GD) and Sara Howie (WA) having been around the block a few times.
They will take great confidence from last week’s performance against Inverloch, with an equal first-quarter showing their best is almost good enough.
The Gulls have not played at full-strength for a majority of this season, so the run together last week will certainly do them good.
THE TIP
What a cracking contest we have in store, with both teams basically at full strength. The Goon has been one of the best four or five teams for a few years now, but needs to claim a scalp like this – on the big stage – to elevate itself to the next level. Meaghan Winter, Chantelle Dale and the defensive unit of Zoe Parker and Hannah Carney will be so important for the Goon, but the experience of Tooradin-Dalmore will be awfully hard to crack.
It’s the Gulls to book their ticket…with a tough and tight three-goal victory.
