Tigers reflect on maiden GNL cup

A 24-YEAR premiership drought is in the rear-view mirror for the Colac Netball Club, overcoming the unlikeliest of odds, 41-33, to down a Newtown & Chilwell outfit at the top of the Geelong Netball League (GNL) for the better half of a decade.

Colac goalkeeper and Grand Final captain Brooke Allan won a pair of premierships as a junior Tiger, but the Geelong Cougar said winning a flag as a senior is another achievement entirely.

“It’s so different when you’re a senior, it’s been a long season and a long time coming,” Allan said after the win.

“I’m 24 now so I wasn’t alive when Colac won its last A Grade premiership, so I don’t think it has sunk in just how big of an achievement this is yet, but it’s bloody cool.”

A pair of buses holding a travelling party of Tigers supporters descended on St Albans Reserve to cheer on Colac, creating for a tremendous atmosphere on Geelong’s biggest day in netball.

Trailing by one at quarter-time, Colac took command of the GNL Grand Final in the second term with a 13-9 run, leading 20-17 at the main break.

Bolstered by the convoy of Tiger fans that made the trip from Colac, the underdog extended its lead to nine at the final intermission, placing one hand on the premiership trophy.

Tigers’ co-coaches Tahlia Jeffreys and Jessie Lang urged a strong finish to the contest and the team responded, tallying a 13-10 fourth quarter to convincingly take the season decider.

Colac goalers Michelle and Bec Winch needed to be close to perfect against the Eagles, and they were, scoring 25 and 16 goals respectively.

Defensive tandem Allan and Indya Forde held Newtown to its lowest score of the season.

Jeffreys needed her side to remain cool and calm against a Newtown squad that had won the past seven GNL Grand Finals.

“It’s unbelievable to do it for the club, it’s first Geelong A Grade flag,” Jeffreys said.

“As soon as last week’s one-point win against South Barwon was over, we needed to reset. It came to training on Tuesday and we needed to focus on what was in front of us.

“We made the Grand Final in 2009, but unfortunately we were unable to come away with the win, so this win means just as much to the girls in that team as it does to girls in this one.”