By Alex Woods
For the first time since 2006, the whole club has been in finals. Saturday was a proud day for the Warburton-Millgrove Football Netball Club, couldn’t be more excited. There were 6 games, 4 at Healesville and 2 at Woori Yallock.
3 Milestones this weekend, Courtney Irwin and Brooke de Pedro both played their 150th game and Kirralee Luiyf plays her 50th game. Highs and lows this weekend but unfortunately sport can be cruel at times, but everyone will recover and work hard for the next.
D Grade had the week off and play for the Grand Final spot next weekend.
Under 17’s netball kicked off the morning at Healesville taking on Powelltown. Powelltown finished 1 spot above them on the ladder. The teams had met 5 times throughout the year with 3 wins to Powelltown and 2 to Warburton-Millgrove. It was set to be a tough match. The game started Powelltown’s way with a score of 6-3 at the quarter-time break. A few minor errors, finals time nerves and replacement of fresh legs, the team managed to keep Powelltown to shoot 1 goal in the second quarter and 9 goals for themselves, giving a halftime score of 7-12. The team found their momentum and put together their fitness, attacking skills and defensive effort to have an 8-goal lead heading into the last term. No backing off now, elimination finals are scary, and anything can change. But, the team didn’t lose confidence, kept their calm and managed to secure a win from one of the best team effort games to date. The final score was 16-22 and the 17’s will take on Broadford in the preliminary final next Sunday. Awesome efforts from Lucas Rush, Hannah Darwall and Tayah Humphrey, with Tayah putting up 15 goals and Tahlia Thornton with 7.
C Grade was next to play for a spot in the Grand Finals. Also taking on Powelltown, C Grade finished the season undefeated but the pedal doesn’t come off now. They started off strong with a 16-1 lead at the first break. The momentum was good, the ball was flowing nicely and the goals were sinking in. The halftime score was 27-7, still half to go but the girls didn’t look like slowing down. The final score was 53-21 and they had earned a place into the Grand Final! A week off to work hard and the big game will occur in 2 weeks’ time. Congratulations all! Top performers were Courtney Irwin for her 150th game, Melanie Hancock and Bianca Fraser. Mel Hancock had a ripper putting up 27 goals, Emily Hay with 20 and Brooke de Pedro for her 150th also secured 6 goals to the team win.
Reserves were the first football match for the day and had a tough match-up against Kinglake for a Grand Final spot. Taking on Kinglake just the week before, they managed to secure their undefeated 2022 run with a win by just 18 points. The game started well, Healesville is a bigger ground than normal, but the team managed to get a 2.3-15 to 0.1-1 lead by the first break. The flow kept going nice into the second quarter and only let Kinglake kick 1 goal for themselves in the first half. The Reserves were 7.11-53 to Kinglake 2.2-14 at three-quarter time but needed to push
through right to the final siren to secure that Grand Final spot. The Reserves kept Kinglake scoreless in the last quarter of footy and secured another goal for themselves. The final score was 7.18-60 to Kinglake 2.2-14. With sharing goal-kicking efforts, Damien Egan, Noah Erickson, Brayden Ferguson, Scott Muir, Josh Read, Ash Taylor and Lee Weir all secured 1 goal each for the team’s win. The best players were Marcel Kocher, Matthew Godenzi, Tyson Henry, Josh Sharp and Brayden Ferguson. So far, 2 grand final spots secured and 1 prelim, the day was going well.
A Grade was up next with a tough match against Powelltown. The girls knew it was going to be a physical battle throughout, but were determined to get the Grand Final spot. The girls came out strong with a 14-8 lead at the first break. The intensity was strong and they managed a 26-15 lead by halftime. The Burras finished off strong securing a Grand Final spot with a final score of 43-26, Shae Gee put up 30 goals out of Gabrielle Woods, Morgan Wyatt and Shae Gee.
Now it was over to Woori Yallock as B Grade and Seniors play their Elimination finals. B Grade took the court against Alexandra. B Grade has won all times they have met, the first time by 2 goals, then by 7 the second meeting, and by 8 goals last time they met. Good start by the girls in the first quarter with a score of 18-7 by the first break. They managed to hold on and kept their team effort throughout securing a prelim spot next weekend with a 54-31 end result. Chelsea Barnard, Alexandra Woods and Sally McIntosh were awarded best on for this match with Alexandra Woods shooting 24 goals, Jordana Butcher with 23 goals and Ella Meerkotter with 7. Next week the girls take on Broadford for a spot in the Grand Final.
The Senior boys finished off the first round of finals by taking on Yarra Junction in an Elimination. This was going to be a hard match. 2 wins to Yarra Junction and 1 win to Warburton-Millgrove, it could go anyone’s way. The boys started strong kicking 3.5 to Yarra Junction’s 2.4 but the first break. Unfortunately, they managed to kick 5 goals in the second quarter to our 2, which gave them a lead of 12 at the half
time break. The boys had a tough job in the second half, it was important to not let the nerves get the better of them having not played finals for a few years. They got back into the game and secured 4 goals to Yarra Junction’s 2 in the 3rd quarter, only being 1 point down at the last break. The last quarter had to be physical and implement all the skills and tactics they had obtained throughout the
season. Unfortunately, Yarra Junction secured 5 goals in the last quarter to Warburton-Millgrove’s 1.3 giving them a confident lead. The Burras were able to apply defensive pressure and use their attacking skills but
weren’t able to convert it and reward themselves for the efforts. The game resulted in 14.10-94 to 10.10-70 Yarra Junctions way, progressing them on in the finals, meaning the season has ended for the Burra boys.
The progression the senior boys, as well as the whole club, have made over the last couple of years is amazing, and the whole club couldn’t be more proud. Upsetting and devastating they were not able
to get the reward for the hard work they put in, the boys should hold their heads up high for the attitudes, and efforts they show throughout. The future of our club is very bright with the numbers being produced and the kids coming through the ranks. Hard work into next year to be even better. Well done everyone.
As a result of yesterday’s finals, Warburton-Millgrove have secured 3 grand finals spots and 3 preliminary spots. The next 2 weeks are looking exciting for the club.
Go Burras!
