Strikers skipper proud but not content as VNL finals arrive

HAVING already carved out a slice of history by reaching VNL finals for the first time, Bendigo Strikers captain Chelsea Sartori believes Wednesday night’s championship elimination final against Casey Demons is an opportunity for the club to start work on an exciting new chapter.

The inspirational midcourter says she could not be prouder of the Strikers’ achievement in making championship finals in only their second season in the state’s premier netball competition.

That pride extends to the Strikers’ 23-and-unders, who will also make their first foray into finals in an elimination final showdown against Geelong Cougars.

Sartori, one of the first players to commit to her hometown club after it gained a VNL licence in the latter part of 2023, views a watershed finals series as vindication of the long struggle, fought by many, to be accepted into the competition.

 

“We always knew we were good enough to be in this league and that was something we really focused on early on, that mindset of believing,” she said.

“Now that we’ve beaten a few top teams and started to play a really good brand of netball, the belief has just gotten stronger and stronger each week.

“I am so proud of us, and I can’t wait for Wednesday night. It’s super-exciting.”

The Strikers will enter finals in excellent form, on the back of five wins from their last six matches. The only blemish was a tight three-goal loss to Melbourne University Lightning a fortnight ago.

That loss, which followed a convincing win three days earlier against Western Warriors, might well prove to be a blessing in disguise.

“Maybe it was the loss we needed to come together again and reset; and to set the standards a bit higher at training and expect a little bit more from each other,” Sartori said.

“Every game you play, you have to work for it. The wins aren’t going to come unless you work for it.

“Look, it (the loss) happened, but it didn’t change where we finished on the ladder.

“Casey will be tough, no doubt about it, but I do think we can get the job done.”

A two-time premiership player with Kangaroo Flat in her home league – the BFNL – and also a two-time league best and fairest, Sartori harbors a deep appreciation for just how tough it is to reach finals at VNL level.

In a lengthy career that has featured stops at Ballarat Sovereigns, Boroondara Express, Geelong Cougars and now Bendigo, she has only participated in finals twice.

That has only strengthened her resolve to make the first one as a Striker count.

“They are ever so hard to come by in this league,” Sartori said.

“You kind of have to win early on in your season to set yourself up.

“If you lose a couple of games that you should win at the back end, it can really knock you out of contention pretty quickly.”

Sartori, who boldly predicted the Strikers to reach finals in 2025 on the day of her appointment as captain in February, said making good on the vow was ‘incredible’.

“It’s a real testament to everyone involved at our club, be they at coaching level, or playing level, or the board level,” she said.

“Everyone has just put so much time and effort to get us where we are.

“As players we have worked very hard and I feel we have connected a lot more this year, which has helped.

“The connection off the court has gotten a lot stronger, so that has helped on the court.

“I am really proud of us, and I am really proud of Zoe (vice-captain Zoe Davies) and of (23-and-under leaders) Shae (Clifford) and Elsie (Boyer) for leading our teams to finals.

“The 23s have done a great job. From only four wins last year to finals last year, it’s been an amazing turnaround.

“It’s exciting for all of us.”