BROADFORD’S A and B Grade netballers are one win away from capping a fairytale 2022 season with premierships after rousing Outer East Football Netball preliminary final wins at the weekend.
Broadford supporters turned Woori Yallock Recreation Reserve into a sea of blue and white on Sunday, with all four of the club’s netball sides playing for grand final berths.
While the 17 and under and C Grade sides were defeated – by one goal and 11 goals respectively – the A Grade side completed a stirring comeback against Powelltown to win 41-34 and book a date with Warburton-Millgrove in Saturday’s grand final.
After Broadford fell behind by nine goals in the early going, club president Bonnie Cavanagh said a change came over the players.
“They switched into another gear. It was as if they put their foot down and said ‘no, we are not losing this game’,” she said.
“You saw the hunger in their eyes, and all of them played amazingly.
“Amanda Rothwell dominated the defence with Ebony Heers and Ally Black was gliding through the midcourt and sending it straight into either Renee [Sari] or Alyssah [Chibnall], and they were on fire.”
The B Grade team followed up the performance with a win of its own, downing Warburton-Millgrove 42-32 to lock in a grand final meeting with Powelltown.
Cavanagh described the grand final appearances as ‘reward for effort’ by all involved with Broadford.
“The word I always use is resilience. We’ve been through a lot as a club and a netball department after not being in finals for 14 years,” she said.
“We’re so united as a group and we’ve worked so hard to support each other, so this is an amazing reward for effort.
“For [the A Grade side] to come from fourth on the ladder, knock off third and then knock off second to make the grand final is an incredible achievement.”
The A Grade win was made all the more remarkable by the loss of leading goal-scorer Caitlin Hinrichsen, who injured her knee during Broadford’s first final against Alexandra and will be unable to take part in the grand final.
Cavanagh said the team refused to let the setback deter it.
“We’ve had injuries and everything thrown at us throughout the year, but we’ve just come back stronger and stronger,” she said.
“We’ve had significant change and we’re trying to do things differently in the best interests of our members and our players. Everyone has stuck by us, and the ones who have are now getting rewarded.
“We’re trying to keep a lid on it, but I’m so excited for our players and our coaches.”
