Lions to be bold, brave in pursuit of back-to-back

SUNBURY premiership coach Kim Bailey is urging her players to be bold, brave and have no regrets when they face Darley in this Saturday’s BFNL A-grade grand final at City Oval.

The Lions will go into the clash as favourites to go back-to-back, having won their way straight through to the grand final with narrow victories over the Devils and North Ballarat in the first two weeks of finals.

But as an experienced coach like Bailey well knows, past wins and losses count for nought on grand final day.

Bracing for a massive test against the Devils, who won their way through to the big dance with an eight-goal win over North Ballarat last Saturday, Bailey is imploring her players to put their trust in each other and the game plan that has brought so much success over the last two years.

“We have a real fast-paced game, while being accurate under the post and being tenacious in defence,” she said.

“We will need to close off the first option that they have.

“We know how hard Darley are.

“They are strong everywhere on the court, but defensively they are extremely strong.

“Our plan will be speed defeats defence type stuff and get the ball into our goalers as quick as possible.

“That’s our basic plan and how we play every single game, so we’ll stick to our basics, back each other 100 per cent and take the risk to be bold and brave when we need to be.”

The Lions will draw plenty of inspiration from their injured teammate Elly Randall, who broke her elbow in two places in the week leading up to their second semi-final win over the Roosters.

On the plus side, they will regain the versatile Tara O’Grady, who has been overseas for work in recent weeks. Bailey said Randall would undoubtedly be in the thoughts of all Sunbury players on grand final day.

“Every team has a story and last year’s was interesting,” she said.

“We’d come back from not having teams in grades, but we’ve been looking for what the story would be this year.

“Back-to-back is always a good one, but it’s pretty common.

“But now with Elly hurt, Elly is our story and getting that win for her.

“Our team is really close and tight-knit and Elly is a massive part of it.

“She’s been at the club for nearly 10 years, so we want to do it for El.”

Bailey pinpointed the strong defence of Darley’s Matilda Elliot and Anna Lawley, the midcourt creativity of Shannon Blackman and the poise of goal shooter Olivia Cawthray all as potential threats

But she has faith in the Devils’ quiet achievers Lucy Taylor and Jaimee Smith.

“No doubt we are going to have to be on our game, but sometimes I forget what we have, and we have a bit of firepower there,” she said.

“We probably haven’t played our best netball the last few weeks, so we’re hoping to bring that grand final day.

“Having said that, we’ve been forced not to play our best due to some really great opposition.”

While back-to-back beckons for the Lions, Bailey was intent on emphasising that it was a proud day for the whole club and Sunbury community, with five netball and two football (seniors and reserves) teams in grand finals.

“It’s absolutely amazing,” she said.

“I’m so proud of each and every player, coach, administrator and supporter that has helped get us there.

“We only missed out on our under-19 girls in netball, but to have nearly every team in is astounding.

“It will be a sea of blue on Saturday.”