THE BFNL is renowned as a breeding ground for some of the , and that reputation looks certain to grow following Saturday's 17-and-under grand final. or signup to continue reading Minor premiers Sandhurst will do battle with Golden Square in a replay of their second semi-final clash a fortnight ago. It was the Dragons that prevailed in that one, claiming a convincing 60-39 victory.
The Bulldogs were able to rebound strongly, setting up another showdown with the Dragons by beating Strathfieldsaye 56-37 in last weekend's preliminary final. While the semi-final margin was decisive, Golden Square is not without a win this season over Sandhurst. The Bulldogs inflicted the Dragons' first and only loss of the season in round 15 with a 49-47 victory.
That win contributed to a run of 11 consecutive wins for the Bulldogs, snapped only by their semi-final defeat to the Dragons. But as a seasoned coach and administrator, Sandhurst's Carol Cathcart knows only too well that anything can, and will, happen on grand final day. "You always want to play your best netball on grand final day, that's the key, and then the result looks after itself," she said.
"You have to play your best netball when it matters." Cathcart, who was at the helm for last year's one-goal grand final loss to Gisborne, hoped the Dragons' semi-final performance was an indication they were indeed peaking. "I was very happy with how we played a couple of weeks ago.
I thought our approach to the game and the way we went about was really good," she said. "But we will need to do that again this weekend. "We have some quality opposition.
"Grand finals don't just happen, you have to follow the process and make sure you have covered everything off to make sure you are in the best position to perform at your best at the right time. "We have been the best two teams all year, so hopefully that translates to a great game and some quality netball. "We have some really great young talent in our area at the moment and it will be on display on grand final day.
" The Dragons will have six of last year's grand final players in their line-up on Saturday. While it was disappointing to come up short against Gisborne in a thriller, with some fresh blood in the ranks and a different opponent, redemption has not been a key theme for the Dragons, who will be taking nothing for granted. "Every time you get into a grand final, you have to play the game and the opposing team on their merits," she said.
"What happened last year - it really did happen last year. "While it would be nice to get a win, it certainly doesn't mean it's your turn." We have some really great young talent in our area at the moment and it will be on display on grand final day The Dragons will be chasing their first 17-and-under flag since 2019, which was the third in a and won against Golden Square.
Key players for the Dragons will be and midcourters Neve Pinner and Jaida Raco. Pinner was the runner-up for the second consecutive year behind Maryborough's Ella Patten in the league's Carol Sing Medal best and fairest count. Golden Square coach Clare Hope was thrilled to have earned another crack at Sandhurst following an ultra-pleasing preliminary final performance against Strathfieldsaye.
In an encouraging sign, the 19-goal margin was the Bulldogs' biggest over the Storm this season. The girls came together nicely, we were really proud," Hope said. "Hopefully we can level things at two-all against Sandhurst.
"The number one thing we need to do is play consistently. We had a very consistent four quarters on the weekend, but that is harder to do against a classy opposition like Sandhurst. "But I definitely think we have the skill-set among the girls.
"We have got a beautiful team and they have come together really well." Hope said her and assistant coach Kath Basilewsky were quick to identify where things went wrong against the Dragons on semi-final day. "I think last time we were still finding our feet after losing a midcourter to injury," she said of her daughter Lilly, who had knee surgery on Thursday.
"They are just so classy across the court, so it took us a while to adjust. So our midcourt was an area where we struggled. "We've had another final to settle ourselves a bit more.
"They are just so classy across the court, so it took us a while to adjust. So our midcourt was an area where we struggled. "We've had another final to settle ourselves a bit more.
"Sandhurst are very tall, so we went back to basics and started playing our game against the Storm. "They (Sandhurst) have set the bar pretty high, so we have worked hard this season to get to their standard. "I'm sure if we can find our best netball, we'll take it up to them.
" The Bulldogs also had one of their goalers ill last time against Sandhurst. A finals series that will end at least one step higher for the Bulldogs, who were third last season, has been led by top-aged players, dominant goal shooter Natalie Flood and mature defender Abbi Wells. Wells was the Bulldogs' second highest vote scorer in this year's league count with 14, six behind Lucy Paton, who finished equal fourth.
Both Flood and Wells have appeared in the senior grades this season and acquitted themselves nicely. - Neve Pinner, Jaida Raco, Claire McGee, Meg Pearce, Tshari Brown, Charlie Coghill, Lila Kelly, Harriett Whiteacre, Diana Napoleon, Milla Sherriff, Tahli Gilchrist. - Abbi Wells, Anya Basilewsky, Emma Keating, Kaylah Moon, Lilly Hope, Lucy Paton, Larni Taylor, Natalie Flood, Tess Mills, Juliet Hogan, Rachael Flood.
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