A-grade
It’s called the premiership quarter for a reason, and it was a sensational third-term showing from Avenel that netted its first A-grade flag in 22 years.
The Swans were unstoppable in a 12-goal-to-three third-term display that had to be seen to be believed.
Within a matter of minutes, scores went from being level to the Swans having total control, an unassailable lead and all the momentum in the world heading in to the final term.
It was the sole difference in what was otherwise an even match.
Nagambie had won the sides’ three encounters with relative ease so far this season; the closest the Swans had got to the all-conquering Lakers was nine goals in the semifinal a fortnight earlier. And early on in Saturday’s fourth match-up of the season, it looked as though the grand final would be taking the same predictable path.
The sides went goal-for-goal in the opening minutes, before Nagambie managed the first break of the match to take the score to 5-3.
The Lakers went on to win the opening term by just three goals, but from the sidelines, it appeared they were well in control.
Avenel settled in the second term, and brought the scoreboard back to even at the main break, setting up a thrilling second half.
In what turned out to be a stroke of genius, coach Kathryn Hard made changes at the half-time break that would prove to make all the difference.
A tired Kallyn Gent, who had run alongside Laker gun Katie Sullivan in centre for the first half, had a spell on the bench, Gen Gordon came on in wing-attack, Sarah Milne in to wingdefence, while Jess Hogan ran with Sullivan for a quarter before Gent returned in the final quarter.
The changes seemed to spark the Swans, who put the foot to the floor in a scintillating 15 minutes of netball.
Nagambie wasn’t without its chances in that third quarter, however. While the accuracy of shooters Bianca Willis and Sophie Harmer couldn’t be faulted in the first half, as the pressure mounted after half-time, so too did the Lakers’ missed shots on goal.
The Lakers had 12 scoring attempts in the third term, but relentless pressure from Avenel defenders Kate Bishop and Laura Mundy saw just three of those make their way though the net.
Up the other end, Avenel’s attack were making just about every shot count, potting 12 goals from its 14 attempts.
Swans coach Kathryn Hard decided