IT all went so well for Bambill in last year’s A Grade competition … until it didn’t.
The Saints shared the minor premiership with Werrimull with matching 12-2 records and seemed destined to play off in the grand final.
Come finals time and the poop hit the rotating device on the ceiling.
The Magpies accounted for Bambill in the qualifying final, no big deal; but then tricky Nangiloc (10-5) blew what should have been a title-bound season apart with a thrilling but dour 26-24 victory; sending the Saints home in straight sets while on their way to a rare title.
“I think they (Nangiloc and Werrimull) were just better than us on the day and obviously in greater form,” coach Lateesha Hester said.
“I just don’t think it was supposed to be our year.
“It was hard to put our finger on what went wrong, they definitely gave as much as they could, but it just wasn’t meant to be for us.
“It was hard to reflect on because we just didn’t know what went wrong, but that’s behind us now.”
‘Now’ is not a revenge mission, more a redemption one and Hester believes her squad is up to the task.
“We are looking pretty good,” the second year coach said. “We’ve had good turnouts … numbers across all of our teams. Some new faces, some returning players, so we are feeling good.
“We’ve lost a couple of A Graders who have moved on to the SFNL. They were our defenders last year, but we’ve got (Merbein veteran) Breigh Hammet to help out there now and Roanna Gathercole, a defender, is also returning.
“The girls are really committed … so everyone is really looking forward to the season and have given 100 per cent in preseason.
“The reason we all play is for the premiership, so that’s what we are striving for and there’s no point turning up each week if that’s not going to be our goal.”
