Colac coach hints at dynasty following Grand Final thriller

COLAC Tigers A Grade coach Courtney Cuolahan said a robot could coach her side during Grand Final week, but has led her club all the same to back-to-back premierships in a thriller over Newtown & Chilwell.

The Tigers defeated the Eagles in the Geelong Netball League decider on Saturday by the smallest of margins, surviving a nerve-wracking fourth-quarter surge to win the contest by one goal, 38-37.

Cuolahan said after the game that her side needed to stay composed in the final quarter to emerge triumphant.

“Got to give massive credit to the bench and the crowd, they really got the group up and about in those final minutes, there were so many ebbs and flows in the game, also a massive credit to the girls for hanging out until the very end,” Cuolahan said.

The Tigers led by as many as six goals in the fourth quarter, before Newtown’s finals experience shone through, drawing to within one goal before the final siren sounded.

Cuolahan said the premiership win for her hometown club was right up there on her list of accolades.

“This group has taught me so much, their ability is unreal, and I’ve learnt so much from players like Indya Forde, Brooke Allan, and so many more,” Cuolahan said.

“To bring another premiership back to Colac, just means the world to me, and hopefully we can continue a bit of a dynasty with this group.”

Tigers defender Forde was bestowed the best-on-court medal, playing a critical role in limiting Newtown captain Julia Woolley and Team of the Year shooter Uneeq Palavi in front of goal.

Among the ecstatic Tigers was captain Emily Murfitt, who took over the captaincy role from Kelsey Lang due to Lang’s announced pregnancy.

Like Cuolahan and the majority of the A Grade side, Murfitt grew up playing for Colac.

She said it was an honour to claim back-to-back flags.

“It was just such a good feeling, but we had a scare late in the game,” Murfitt said.

“We knew they were gonna do that, we knew they were going to come out fighting in the fourth and it just showed us it was anyone’s game.

“Our girls did all they could to get those intercepts, I’m super proud of our defenders, then it just fell to us to score of those possessions.

“I didn’t think I would be in this position at the start of the season, me being a premiership captain, it’s just awesome.”

Before its drought-breaking premiership last year, Colac had not won an A Grade flag in 24 years.