Hawks’ glory

Drouin’s A grade netballers celebrate their their premiership on Saturday (from left) left) April April Bethune, Jodie Proctor, Proctor, Linda Rasmussen (holding (holding Ava Ava Rasmussen), Karina Proctor, Proctor, coach Stacie Gardiner, Christie Edwards, Kylie Proctor, Proctor, Jessie Hedley, Kym Diston, Ruby Pratt Pratt and Sarah Dunn.

A battle of the Titans. A repeat of last year’s grand final. A grudge match. It was going to be a demanding game for Drouin. Traralgon had had a week of rest while Drouin had had to stretch their legs against Moe last week.

Grand Final day. What an atmosphere it was around Moe, who did a superb job hosting.

Before the match, the tension among the supporters was palpable. The Traralgon footy boys lined up behind one end, the Drouin supporters covering the hills in some fine looking T-shirts.

Formalities over, the match began. Traralgon came out firing in the first quarter, pushing out to an early lead. Drouin held on, rallying from both ends. Goalers Stacie Gardiner and Karina Proctor held their leads and worked the ball around the ring.

Ruby Pratt went down early with an ankle injury – it was a credit to her that she “got up” as her team mates willed her to do so. She went off and came back on a bit later, determined to show her strength. Alas, she couldn’t run out the game but had an impact.

Drouin had a game plan and it worked. Christie Edwards jumped from C into WA to replace Ruby and Jessie Hedley moved from WD to C, showing the versatility of the team.

Edwards was one of the fastest on twards wacourt, putting moves into play before the opposition even knew what was going on. Same for Hedley, who fought hard and got many rewards for her efforts.

At the first quarter break, Drouin were seven goals down.

Coming into the second quarter, Linda Rasmussen and later April Bethune also jumped into WD to keep the force moving. Drouin at the half time break was only two goals down.

As coach Stacie Gardiner had said earlier in the week, Drouin was fit. Very fit. Fittest team of the year maybe – and they had the legs to run out the game. Legs that range from 15 years old (April) to 32. Expertise combined with youth, a dynamic force.

By the third quarter, Drouin had taken a small lead. Defenders Sarah Dunn and Kym Diston took intercepts and applied pressure to the Traralgon goalers. Diston took some flying intercepts into the air against her GS, while Dunn then flew down the court helping to convert it into a goal.

The Drouin supporters behind the goalers were going nuts. The hillside supporters were too.

Drouin stretched it out to a 10-goal lead with some long bombs by Proctor and Gardiner, while the defenders thwarted any last minute challenges by Traralgon.

It was the sweetest end to the season: a premiership!

Best on court was Stacie Gardiner, GA and coach.

Above: Drouin WA Christie Edwards flies like a ballerina to take the ball ahead of Traralgon’s Kate French. Edwards was one of the fastest on the court.

Drouin centre Jessie Hedley gets a quick pass to Karina Proctor in the goal ring.

The Hawks gather in a huddle after the whistle signals they have beaten Traralgon to win the flag, reversing last year’s defeat.

Drouin GA and coach Stacie Gardiner was named best on court in an absorbing grand final contest.

Above: Kym Diston helped to withstand Traralgon’s onslaught.

Drouin GD Sarah Dunn combined with GK Kym Diston to thwart Traralgon’s goalers.