By David Nagel
It’s almost impossible to improve on a premiership year but Inverloch-Kongwak can take the next step towards the perfect season of netball when the Sea Eagles face Tooradin-Dalmore in the second semi-final at Nar Nar Goon on Saturday.
The Sea Eagles are the reigning champions, having won 17 games through the home-and-away season in 2022, before losing to Bunyip in the direct grand final qualifier last year.
They then downed Tooradin in the preliminary final, before a magnificent four-goal victory over Bunyip in the big one.
This season…they’re undefeated…with not a single blemish.
Coach Jarrad Walker has signalled his intentions to hang up the clip-board at the end of this campaign, and to do so as an undefeated premiership coach – a back-to-back one at that – would elevate his status into rare company.
Walker took over a modest program, with an elimination final loss to Korumburra-Bena in 2018 the Sea Eagles only taste of the big time.
They missed finals in 2019, and finished sixth in the Covid-reduced season of 2021.
But the last two years have been quite extraordinary.
Walker has some exquisite talent at his disposal, with two-time league best and fairest winner Renee Pilkington a dynamic defender, working wonderfully in tandem with Linsey Boddy in the circle, while Lanni Pryor and Kelsey Buxton lead a fabulous midcourt brigade.
Kelly Boyd has a steady hand in goals, while Ella Sadler and Amy Scott are influential figures around the court.
But Tooradin…it will be up for the challenge.
The Seagulls have had their own fairytale run, being cellar-dwellers for several seasons before taking back-to-back crowns in the former South East Football Netball League in 2017, ‘18.
They then made it a three-peat in 2019 – their first season in West Gippsland.
Players that helped break the 11-year drought in 2017, such as Alex and Jess Maher, Eb Dolan, Sara Howie and coach Kelly Haynes are still key components of this mighty machine today, with the likes of Zoe Coventry and Abbey Howes presenting a fresh look.
They know how to win big games the Gulls…there’s no doubt about that.
THE TIP
Based on results this season…Inverloch goes in a hot favourite. They trounced the Gulls by 20 goals at Tooradin in round 11, then took no mercy on an understrength Seagulls lineup in round 16…winning by 40.
Kelly Haynes has some serious tricks up her sleeves, but it’s hard to see the Gulls turning the tables.
It’s Inverloch-Kongwak to progress to grand final day with an 11-goal victory.
