Elliot stands tallest in Devils’ rousing triumph

DEPENDABLE Darley defender Matilda Elliot put past grand finals disappointment behind her with a standout display in the Devils’ five-goal BFNL A-grade netball premiership triumph at City Oval.

Elliot – winner of the best-on-court medal for a brilliant game at goal keeper – had plenty of extra motivation to deliver a big performance against Sunbury on Saturday.

Three times more.

The 28-year-old co-captain was one of four Devils players lining up in their fourth consecutive grand final.

Unfortunately for her and teammates Shannon Blackman, co-captain Monique Nagle and Ailish McCormack, the previous three were all losses.

Compounding the heartache, the last two were by just two and three goals against North Ballarat (2023) and Sunbury (2024).

Elliot had the unenviable job of lining up on star Sunbury goaler Rebecca Hicks, fresh off a 1000-plus goal season, but cooly never wavered from the task at hand.

Quick to downplay her own crucial role, a humble Elliot felt each Devils player deserved to have a best-on-court medal draped around their neck.

“I think I have the easiest job – all the girls do the hard work up the front and then I can take the pick-ups,” she said.

“My great games are a credit to the hard work they do out the front. It’s definitely a team effort.

“They (Sunbury) were the team to beat all year, so Anna (Lawley) and I worked really hard to shut them down.

“But even when we do that, they can still beat us.

“We stayed calm and composed today and that’s what got us the win in the end.

“I am really proud of the girls.”

A relieved Elliot said it was hard – if not onerous – to convey just how bitterly the three grand final losses had stung those involved at Darley.

“There is four of us – Mon Nagle, Shannon Blackman and Ailish McCormack – who have been in all four, so to be able to celebrate with them means everything,” she said.

“But while we have lost those grand finals, what we have been able to build over the last four years is just really special.

“It’s always a privilege to get into a grand final, so we’ve learnt a lot from the last three.

“Getting this win is a reward for how hard we’ve worked and shows we are a really resilient side and we play for each other.”

As Sunbury mounted a ferocious challenge in the last quarter, Elliot admitted to feeling shades of last year when the Devils lost by three goals after leading by the same margin at three-quarter-time.

A five-goal lead to the Devils at three-quarter-time evaporated into one on multiple occasions, before the Devils composure and strong will won out.

Fittingly, it was Elliot who came up with a few timely intercepts in the final minutes to deny the Lions their shot at back-to-back flags.

The affable and well-respected Devils defender praised the coaching of Blackman, who took over the reins this season from long-time leader Di McCormack and led the club to a drought-breaking flag.

“Shannon has been amazing and has taught me so much this year as a coach,” she said.

“Getting to play alongside her on court and seeing the leadership she shows makes me want to be a better player.

“I think all the girls can say the same thing.

“She is a massive reason why we have been so successful as a club.”