Two consecutive finals wins have sent Winchelsea straight into the A Grade netball preliminary final with the help of strong performances from co-captains Meg Royal and Grace Pullen.
Winchelsea finished fourth on the ladder and have since won its elimination final against Thomson and, most recently, their semi-final against Bannockburn on Sunday.
With both of their finals games being won by at least ten goals both Royal and Pullen were proud of the result against Bannockburn who they lost to by one goal back in Round 10.
“It feels awesome to get that win. We only played Bannockburn once during the season, so we were definitely keen for a do-over and to put together a solid four quarters,” Royal said.
Winchelsea led against Bannockburn throughout the entirety of the game with notable efforts from star defender, Olivia Barber, allowing them to control the scoreboard.
“Liv uses her height really well and she’s a great utility to have in our team, so I think her athleticism and ability to read the play is great for us,” Pullen shared.
“She’s just so reliable down there in defence. When it’s coming in quick and we can’t quite get into our systems, we know that Liv’s there as a last resort,” Royal added.
Throughout the semi-final against Bannockburn, Winchelsea managed to play on their own terms under pressure, utilising their bench of talented players for support from the sidelines.
“The depth of our bench definitely changed the game for us, so although there’s seven players on the court, it’s nice knowing that our bench is there for support,” Pullen said.
“I think also having faith that our game plan works was really helpful, knowing that when we execute it we’re able to score,” Royal added.
Winchelsea have become the team to beat this finals series and throughout the home and away season, with many important players returning from injuries to solidify their lineup.
“It’s been a great opportunity for us to have a few games together as a group before coming into finals,” Pullen said.
With two finals wins under their belts, Winchelsea will prepare to face Inverleigh in the preliminary final this weekend, hoping to secure another win and progress into the grand final.
Inverleigh finished the season as minor premiers but lost to East Geelong by 18 goals in the second qualifying final and drew with Winchelsea last time they met in Round 16.
“It’s going to be a tough game no matter what and they’re going to come out firing just like we are, so if we stick to what we’re good at and execute it, it’ll be a good game,” Royal said.
“I think our focus will mainly be on our game and on our strengths, and then the results will come from that,” Pullen added.
