Devils ready for finals return against Thomson

EXCITEMENT is brewing at Shell Reserve as Corio gears up for its first A Grade Final in five years.

The Devils take on fourth-seeded Thomson with only percentage separating the two sides in 2023.

Corio player-coach and goaler Shayna Brown said it was a nervous wait to find out if her side had made the Geelong & District Netball League finals, despite a three-goal win against North Geelong last weekend.

“As soon as we came away with a win, my mind automatically went to whether we knew someone in Inverleigh, because we needed either Werribee Centrals to win, or Inverleigh to win by a minimal margin to make the five.

“It was actually one of our D Grade players’ partner in Inverleigh that provided us with the update Centrals had won 37-24 and we were in, which was super exciting for the group.”

Corio were in line to compete in final in 2021, before the GDFNL cancelled the remainder of the season due to the pandemic.

Brown noted the Devils last played an A Grade finals match in 2018 and said she could already feel a buzz going throughout the club.

“I’ve been at the club since 2017 and when I arrived there from South Barwon, it was only our A and B Grade sides that were pushing finals, but with C and D Grade finishing on top in their respective comps, it’s created a very positive vibe.”

Corio defeated Thomson 34-40 in Round 2 before drawing later in the season 51-51 in Round 13.

Thomson ranks the worst in goals against among its fellow finalists, conceding 782, but trail only minor premiers Winchelsea in goals for with 1,014.

Both Brown and fellow goaler Kailah-Mae Keepen will look to provide ample production in the scoring third for the Devils, trying to put Thomson under pressure early.

“We need to exploit Thomson’s weakest third, its defensive end, on Sunday,” Brown said.

“How we are going to do that is through ball movement.

“If it takes 10 passes to score a goal, so be it, then we have more possession than the opponent.

“Treasuring ball possession, using the width of the court, going backwards to go forward, which I know sounds stupid, but Winchelsea does a really good job of it and they’re minor premiers for a reason.

“If we can do those things and find the circle edge, we’re really hard to beat.”

Thomson and Corio begin their Elimination Final at 3.15pm on Sunday to round out Week 1 of finals action at St Albans Reserve, with the winner to face the loser of Werribee Centrals and East Geelong’s clash the day before.