Tigers ready to pounce at junior netball finals

Back row: Tigers netball president Meagan Mifsud, coaches Nicole Hayes, Chelsea Bryans, Jess Standfield and Lauren Berridge. Front row: Captains Livi Carson, Ava Carson, Coco Hayes, Lily Franklin and Grace O'Kane. Photos: VINNIE VAN OORSCHOT

THERE will be no shortage of Torquay Tigers netball on Saturday at Grinter Reserve with four junior sides having booked their ticket to Grand Final day.

Torquay’s Under 13 Division 2, Under 13 Division 1, Under 15 Division 1 and Under 17 Division 2 side will all compete throughout the day for the chance to be crowned premiers.

Under 13’s Div 1 coach Nicole Hayes with players Lily Franklin, Coco Hayes and Ava Carson.

Torquay Tigers netball president Megan Mifsud said the club’s netball program has bounced back from a disruptive two years and the number of teams competing for premiership glory is evidence of that.

“It’s really rewarding that our junior program, which we’ve been working on the past six years since I came on board as president, still managed to pull in 130 kids week in, week out, that’s huge,” Ms Mifsud said.

“All of our sides made finals with five sides already playing Grand Finals last Friday, two of which winning, so the amount of work we have done with our junior playing group is a testament to where we are as a club.”

Under 15’s coach Lauren Berridge and captain Livi Carson.

Saturday’s Grand Finals will crown new Bellarine premiers for the first time in three years due to a cancelled season in 2020 and an abruptly ended 2021 campaign.

This year, however, will be different and the club is feeling the excitement ahead of a big day of competition.

“There has been no shortage of challenges this season with isolation and absences, but the community has backed us with its trust to get kids back into team-sport and that has been amazing,” Ms Mifsud added.

“It’s been a while since we’ve had a week like this and we’re ready to get stuck into Saturday.”

Under 17 Div 2 coaches Jess Standfield and Chelsea Bryans next to captain Grace O’Kane.

All four junior sides will face Geelong Amateur this weekend, continuing a long-standing rivalry between two of the biggest netball programs in the Bellarine Netball League.

Under 13 Div 2 is scheduled to play at 8.15am, Under 13 Div 1 is at 9.30am, Under 15 Div 1 is slated for 12pm and Under 17 Div 2 will conclude junior play at 1.30pm.

Torquay’s senior B Grade (1.30pm) and D Grade (10.45am) sides are also on the card Saturday at Grinter Reserve.