Melton broke its 13-year Ballarat Netball League premiership drought with an emphatic win against Sunbury Lions in Saturday’s A-grade grand final.
After losing their semi-final clash with the Lions in extra time – having led by eight goals in the third quarter – the Bloods set the tempo at Eastern Oval and went on to record a 15-goal win.
With their midcourters dominating the play, the Bloods quickly got out to a 7-1 lead.
Playing coach Melissa McCauley was getting plenty of ball in the circle and showing why her fellow coaches voted her the competition’s most valuable player. But two injury time-outs halted the Bloods’ charge and allowed the Lions to settle.
The defending premiers finally started to get some of the ball and look like the side that finished on top of the ladder.
The Lions managed to get the margin back to 7-5 before another injury time-out was called.
There was plenty of pushing and shoving from both sides in what was quickly turning into a physical contest.
But the Bloods took a 12-8 lead by quarter-time, with Lions shooter Sophie Gunn struggling as the Bloods regularly cut off passes to her.
The Lions and Bloods went goal for goal in the second quarter. Sunbury was unable to draw closer than two goals and the Bloods quickly skipped out to lead by five, finishing the half up, 23-18.
The Lions brought Emily Azzopardi on at wing attack to start the second half, with Hayley Mackie moving to wing defence.
The changes didn’t help much, as the Lions continued to struggle to match the Bloods’ midcourt.
Melton’s lead was quickly out to nine goals, the biggest margin to that point of the game.
Players continued to push and shove and frustrations were evident, especially from the Lions’ side of the court.
Desperate to swing momentum their way, the Lions brought Lee Chicas back onto the court at goal defence, while Rebecca Anstey moved to goalkeeper.
Neither move could help Sunbury limit the Bloods’ scoring, with Melton extending its lead to 14 by the final change.
With the game all but over, the two teams went goal for goal in the last quarter, the Bloods winning 48-33.
Star Melton defender Brooke Thompson was best on court in what turned out to be her final game.
Thompson, a former Melbourne Vixens player, announced her retirement in her post-game speech.
