IT all came down to which team could settle first at resurfaced Brian Weightman Oval court number two on Saturday.
With the sun beating down and a large, enthusiastic crowd in attendance, the qualifying final between Mildura and Robinvale Euston started at a frenetic pace with the ball buzzing around on and off the court as players tried to grip on the orb and, more importantly, their jangling nerves.
Not by much of a margin, but the Demons found their groove first and took a lead which they did not relinquish on their way to a seven-goal win in a tight and high-quality encounter.
“It was a large crowd, and you just have those nerves first coming on the court, but the girls soon got their ends back into gear and went, ‘right, we’ve got to do this now’,” Mildura co-coach Jess McNamara said after the mentally and physically testing clash.
“The girls just kept moving on through the court for the full four quarters and that’s what we like. To keep it steady through the whole game.
“In the final quarter you could see Robinvale came out with fire in their belly and we all thought ‘oh, no’, but we put a stop to it. Good on them to come out of the gates and make us a little nervous.
“They are not an easy team. They have two great shooters – one’s a very tall one (Sarah Hepburn) and the other is very zippy (Georgia Giofrelle), and I thought we did the best that we could.”
The Dees had a decisive edge on the bench with four players they could rotate through midcourt while Robinvale Euston had just the one.
“Our depth is a great benefit to us – especially at this time of year – it’s a beautiful day but it got very hot. Those midcourters run so much, so it’s good to have those rotations to get some fresh legs to come in,” McNamara said.
Athletic goal attack and co-coach Ava Zadow scored 38 goals and was the most outstanding player on court, but McNamara preferred to focus on the collective performance.
“It’s a team effort come the finals. I thought Katelyn Challis played really well – particularly her defence. She got many hands to the ball and particularly a great turnover in the last quarter, which was just what we needed at that stage,” she said.
“But every girl on that court played exceptionally well. Can we do better? Absolutely. But that’s just something we can work on.”
Mildura face another staunch test on Saturday at the John James Oval courts in Robinvale when they tackle undefeated Wentworth for a berth in the grand final.
“It’s always great playing Wentworth,” McNamara said. “Finals is a very funny time of year, so I hope the girls don’t come out nervous, because there’s no need to be.
“If we win, we win and if we lose, we get a second chance.”
Meanwhile, Giofrelle’s Eagles return to the BWO courts on Sunday for an elimination game with Red Cliffs.
“I can’t be angry with the girls. They gave it their all. They were great all over the court. We just threw it away a few times and we’ll go back and work on that,” she said after the 60-53 loss.
“They have got the speed, the height, they have got it all,” she said of Mildura. “It’s not much fun at all shooting over them (Watson and McNamara) and if wasn’t them it was the sun in my eyes,” said the coach.
“They were very good today, they were getting everything we were trying to get into the ring, so we had to work twice as hard.
“Everyone played their role well and did everything I asked of them. I just think with the heat, we just weren’t up to the standard of Mildura.
“Sarah held her own in the ring and Kirsty (Neyland) and Jorja Delcastegne did well in defence.
“We lost the opportunity to be back at home, and I am a bit disappointed in that, but we will be back here next week,” she said.
“We just need to learn to settle earlier. It was the first finals game and there were jitters … we just have to be patient with the ball, take our time and not force it down the court or into the ring. Just work it around.
“I tried to tell them that, but I was a nervous wreck as well. The nerves were everywhere. I hadn’t played finals since Under-13s, I think. It was very scary and there was a massive crowd – probably the biggest I’ve ever played in.
“Hopefully we have learnt a lot and can take that into the next game.”
