Tigers and Eagles to joust in Grand Final rematch

STAR-STUDDED line-ups and matchups across Leopold Memorial Park’s main court will set the stage for a blockbuster Geelong Netball League Grand Final this Saturday.

Reigning premiers Colac and last year’s runner-up Newtown & Chilwell will meet in the GNL Grand Final for a second year in a row following the Tigers’ 33-41 win over the Eagles at St Albans Reserve in 2022.

Colac midcourter Emily Murfitt said it is a different feeling going into this year’s Grand Final, this time hoping to defend the Tigers’ crown under Courtney Cuolahan’s first season as coach back at Colac.

“We’re just really pumped for the weekend,” Murfitt said.

“There’s a few nerves here and there, but we’re just super excited to get out there and play our style of netball, and hopefully go back-to-back.

“We’ve got the same squad as last year, make sure we get a good start and put the pressure on early.”

Colac star Zara Walters will make her return to the Tigers line-up, having not suited up in the side since Round 13 in the side’s 71-21 win over Leopold.

Brooke Allan and Indya Forde will also look to create havoc at the defensive end, while Bec and Michelle Winch hope to provide considerable output in the scoring third.

Colac will be without stalwart Kelsey Lang for this year’s Grand Final due to her announced pregnancy, which provides an opportunity for Monika Hammond to come into the side.

Newtown and Colac most recently met a fortnight ago in a three-point thriller at West Oval Reserve, sending the latter through to the Grand Final.

The Eagles then went the long way to the Grand Final by defeating South Barwon in the Preliminary Final by nine goals.

Newtown defender/mid-courter Ruby Pekin-Schlicht said the group was fortunate to go through their Preliminary Final matchup and refine their playing style during finals.

“Mindset for this Saturday is to come out fighting and hope for the best,” Pekin-Schlicht said.

“We felt good coming out of our game against South Barwon, we came together as a team and kept moving forward. We hope to carry that momentum into Saturday.

“Losing last year’s Grand Final is great for motivation and it will be a really good, tough game against Colac come this weekend.”

Newtown will look to its power scoring duo of Uneeq Palavi and captain Julia Woolley to handle its scoring output.

The A Grade Grand Final between Colac and Newtown & Chilwell begins at 3.20pm.