U12 Ex-Services Firebirds.
Junee Netball Club have gone from strength to strength this year, securing a semi-final spot for three out of their five teams, with the other two teams finishing as minor premiers.
The Junee Independent sat down with Club Vice-President, Shanan Mitchell to discuss the achievement.
“Being a very small country sporting club, this is a huge deal to have three teams out of five get through. It’s unbelievable and we’re super, super proud of them all. They have not given up all season,” she said.
“They have just been an amazing bunch of girls.”
Last year the Club saw one team make the Grand Final, but as the oldest team, most of the players had aged out by this season.
According to Shanan, most of the team members have not been to a Grand Final before, let alone won one.
“Our Under 12s started out with us beginning to think they weren’t going to have a team due to lack of players,” she said.
“They have only had nine players pretty much through the whole season, which only leaves a couple of reserves, and obviously through injuries, and people being away, it’s cut them very fine, but they have just gone from strength to strength all season.
“They have not missed a beat. They have been an absolutely outstanding team.”
Playing against the Pink Panthers for their qualifying final, Shanan said the competition between the teams have been truly “nail-biting”.
“They’ve been going one for one every time they’ve played them all through the season,” she said.
“They’ve been at it the whole season, and on the weekend, they prevailed and won out in the qualifying final, which is amazing.
“That whole game was one for one goal. They went into extra time twice.
“Junee painted Wagga purple and gold. It was amazing.”
Not only did the girls bag the coveted Grand Final spot, but they played off in rain, wind and freezing temperatures, making the triumph that much more worthwhile.
“It was one of those games that just kept you on the edge of your seat the whole time,” said Shanan.
“They had no subs for that game, so they were busted in the end, [however] they were absolutely amazing and now they are straight into the Grand Final which is played not this weekend, but the next weekend.
“I have no doubt it’ll be against Pink Panthers again, but we’ll wait to see what this weekend shows.”
The intermediate Under 16s team also won their qualifying final with a tight score of 42 to 37.
Taking home the win in the final quarter, Shanan said it was a well fought win.
As for the Blaze Under 14s, the team truly stepped it up a notch in their elimination final, taking home a score of 22 to 9.
“They were so excited. They were on a high. The whole time, they led the whole way, they were confident, they were just driven to win,” said Shanan.
“They were not giving up, they were in it to win it, for sure.
“It was their last shot to get in the Grand Final, and they did it.”
The U14s team have been plagued by injuries all season, but the team has been riding a lucky streak over the past few games with all players feeling fit and ready to go.
“We are hoping that this momentum continues into next year,” said Shanan.
“I think we’ll have all the players back and the younger team’s coming up through the ranks. They should have a good shot in the next couple of years as well.
“We haven’t had an Under Nine’s team for the last few years and this year, we worked really hard to get the younger kids to come in, and start making new teams for the younger grades, which is amazing that we did get a team.
“We were very lucky to get the numbers to get a team.”
Although the younger teams don’t have Grand Finals within their competitions, Shanan says it is setting the keen players up for the future.
“We have quite a few younger coaches from [our older] teams coaching the younger girls, so they should be able to pass on their wisdom and knowledge,” she said.
As for this season, Shanan says they are looking for as many people to wear purple and gold to the finals as they cheer the girls on.
The Grand Final will be held on the 19th of September. Timings are expected to be released soon.
Elizabeth Kovacs
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