Bannockburn aiming for first Grand Final since 2019

BANNOCKBURN takes centre court at St Albans Reserve in a Preliminary Final today (Saturday, September 7) for the first time in five years for the chance to reach this year’s Geelong & District Netball League (GDNL) Grand Final.

The Tigers, who entered the finals series in fifth place, has eliminated both Belmont and Corio in consecutive weeks to gather sizeable momentum ahead of the game against minor premiers East Geelong.

Playing co-coach Alana Nicol said the group was feeling the surge of its late-season performances and would need to remain hungry to go toe-to-toe with the Eagles.

“The group is obviously very excited to be part of a Preliminary Final, we’ve just been building on that momentum.

“I told the girls on the weekend we’ve got the people, the skills, it’s all going to be in the mind moving forward, putting our nerves aside and going out and winning.

“We want to show everyone Bannockburn is coming.”

Nicol is one of three Tigers that also featured in the club’s 2019 A Grade premiership (alongside Erin Dillon and Georgia Connors) but isn’t making any comparisons between the two years.

“I’ve thought about this a lot recently, but we’re taking it week by week. Our first thought is always to get the matchups right,” she said.

“We want to be patient and if we make a mistake, just try to make up for it and be relaxed playing our game.

“That was the motto in 2019 and this year it’s the exact same. We’re just absolutely stoked to be playing in a Preliminary Final.”

Nicol praised East Geelong for its physicality, particularly lauding Eagles defender Stephanie Boyce, who Bannockburn have spent time preparing for during the week.

The Tigers’ attack of Ella Wasik and Tamara Watts will aim to make life difficult for the 2022 premiers.

The Preliminary Final begins from 3.15pm with the winner to go into the decider against Winchelsea.