Victorian School Netball Championships

Preliminary Rounds

On 18 Tuesday August, our netball teams descended on the Golden City Netball Courts for the preliminary rounds of the Netball Victoria School Championships. A sunny, yet cool day greeted the teams, and everyone was grateful for the dry conditions. The schedule of the day was simply to play fast-paced netball with two 9-minute halves for all teams, with no time for complacency.

With teams in all sections of the competition, the expectations were high, and all five teams were keen to play well, with the hope of qualifying for the Finals Day scheduled to be played later in Term 3.

SENIOR GIRLS

The Senior Girls team took to the court with a reduced squad of nine players due to illness and injury, and with the knowledge that they were in for a day of physical challenges. The six-game schedule seemed slightly ridiculous as the draw saw all teams playing each other twice!!

Despite the challenge in front of them, all players engaged and performed at their consistently brilliant best all day.

The results were as follows:

Game 1 vs St Joseph’s College Echuca

The girls got away to a good start, with the team settling quickly. Good timing on leads and the passing choices down court were a highlight, as the girls pulled away to a 9-5 lead at half time. The girls kept the momentum in the second half to secure a fantastic 4-goal win, first up 16-12.

Game 2 vs Girton Grammar School

It was a sloppy start to this game, as the girls missed many opportunities with unforced errors and a lack of control. The score at half-time saw the girls up 8-4, however they felt like they could give more. The team effort lifted and they found their free-flowing game style in the second half, however Girton were matching the energy as they tried to keep in touch. A few positional changes allowed the coach to manage her players to conserve some energy for later in the day, as well as engage a varied on-court system. It was another 8-4 half, however what was important was that another win resulted 16-8.

Game 3 vs Ballarat Clarendon College

Knowing that they were in for a tough contest, the girls were primed and ready to go in Game 3. A slight hiccup in the first half saw Juliet go off the court with an ankle tweak, prompting a few changes through the centre court. The girls rallied, and the half-time scores were locked at 6 goals apiece. Juliet showed incredible resilience to return to the court in the second half in Wing Defence and formed a dominant defensive trio with Diana and Lila as the girls consolidated on turnovers and pulled away to a 3-goal win 15-12, on the back of some terrific shooting from Adi and Lexie F.

The end of this round saw the girls on top of the ladder, which was a great feeling. What was not so great was knowing we had to play all three teams again. With the opposition desperate and with nothing to lose, they threw everything at the girls for the second round of games, as they now had the added knowledge of our team structure and game style.

Game 4 vs St Joseph’s College Echuca

This game could only be described as ‘flat’ by the team, as St Joseph’s threw everything but the kitchen sink at them. It was physical, messy, and tiring, and the opposition’s intent was obvious from the start. Half-time saw the girls down by 3 goals. After a few centre-court changes, the girls once again found a spark in energy in the second half, only to see a few errors creep in late into the game, resulting in a loss 10-14.

Game 5 vs Girton Grammar School

In contrast to the last meeting (about an hour and a half earlier), the girls began the game with a different combination and some fresh legs on court. Racing to a 10-goal lead at half-time (13-3) was a much better feeling, inspiring the team to keep pushing, knowing that percentage was now going to be potentially important. With lots of changes at half-time, the adjusted on-court structure saw the girls play some brilliant netball, scoring 10-3, winning by 17 goals (23-6) in an 18-minute game.

Game 6 vs Ballarat Clarendon College

Well, if the last game against this team was important, this one was next level! Needing to win to secure top spot on the ladder, the girls knew that they would have to dig deep as well as take care of the ball when in transition. With faith in the starting team to get them over the line, the girls started well but the enormity of the day was beginning to show. A one-goal deficit at half-time wasn’t anything too much to worry about – as the girls knew they had the ability to turn the ball over in defence, and that is exactly what they did! The girls came out firing in the second half, with defensive pressure all over the court. Hands over the ball, touches here and there and some hard ball gets along with the defensive intercepts of Diana and Lila, saw the team maintain possession, score accurately through Lexie F and Adi and create an 8-3 second half to secure a 4-goal win 16-12. It was a terrific and well-deserved win as the team finished the day on top and secured a spot at the Finals on Thursday 3 September.

Everyone in the team represented the College so well – the teamwork, resilience and determination were the highlights. Special mention to the girls on the bench who helped fill roles all day (Charlize, Ginger and Eden), thanks for the support & motivational encouragement. Congratulations to all the players – from the formidable goaling of Lexie F, Ady and Lexie A, to our tireless and gritty centre court players Juliet, Dempsey and Charli Mc and the defensive pressure of Lila, Diana and Maeve, our team was honestly amazing. Congratulations team - let’s bring on the finals!!

Mrs Sharna Frawley, Coach

SENIOR GIRLS: Mrs Sharna Frawley (Coach), Ginger Hay, Charlize Pinder, Juliet Hogan, Maeve Cass, Adeline Neilson, Diana Napoleon, Eden Pollard
Front L-R: Lexie Austen, Lila Kelly, Charli McInerney, Dempsey McDonnell, Lexie Fennell

INTERMEDIATE GIRLS A

The Intermediate Girls A team delivered a dominant, undefeated performance at the Victorian Schools Competition, winning all four of their matches. A key factor in their success was the team's exceptional versatility, which allowed players to rotate smoothly into different positions. This adaptability paid off across all games, starting with a consistent 16-7 win over Notre Dame College and a commanding 20-6 victory against Moama Anglican Grammar.

The girls maintained their strong momentum to defeat Girton Grammar 21-7, before closing out the day with a clinical 12-4 triumph over St Joseph's College Echuca.

The girls’ determination was evident throughout the day, and the match simulation was invaluable as they look forward to competing at the Schools in Action National Championships from 31 August to 2 September.

INTERMEDIATE A: Mrs Julie Fennell (Coach), Evie Gretgrix, Poppy Gladstone, Sophie McDermott, Lilly Teuma, Ava Hope, Ellie Macumber, Eva Grant, Elle Gilchrist, Sienna Raco, Alexis Arundell, Imogen Brown

INTERMEDIATE GIRLS B

The Intermediate Girls B team were excited to play at the Victorian Schools Championships at Red Energy Arena. The first of four games for the day was against Moama Anglican College.

The girls started brilliantly, securing an excellent win, 19-2. The next two games against St Joseph’s College Echuca and Ballarat Clarendon College really tested the group. These teams were tough in the contest, and despite their best efforts, the team went down in both games, 17-6 and 15-8 respectively.

The final game against Girton saw the girls regroup and play terrific, skilful netball to finish the day with a good win, 10-3.

The girls’ attitude and work ethic were terrific all day and were an absolute delight. Congratulations girls.

Mrs Jessica Baird, Coach

INTERMEDIATE B: Mrs Jessica Baird (Coach), Tarli Nihill, Macey Pinner, Molly Doherty, Ella Saunders, Bonnie Flynn, Lily McKee, Macey White, Marlie Skinner, Ruby Kelly

YEAR 8 GIRLS

The Year 8 Netball team delivered an impressive performance at the Victorian Schools Championships.

The girls got off to a flying start with a dominant 27-5 victory over Moama Anglican Grammar. They carried that momentum into their second match, recording another convincing win, 24-3, against St Joseph's College Echuca Pink. Their strong defensive pressure and accurate shooting were key features across both performances.

The third game saw the team continue their winning form with an 11-5 victory over Ballarat Clarendon College. They then faced their toughest challenge of the day against Girton Grammar School. Trailing by five goals at half time, the girls showed tremendous determination and resilience to fight their way back into the contest. Through relentless effort and excellent teamwork, they erased the deficit to finish with a hard-earned 15-all draw.

The team responded strongly in their next match with a comfortable 24-3 win over St Joseph's College Echuca Yellow, setting up a crucial final game against Notre Dame College A. With both teams sitting level on points, the winner would progress to the next stage of the competition. Rising to the occasion, the girls produced their most determined and disciplined performance of the day. Playing with composure, intensity and excellent teamwork, they controlled the match from start to finish and secured a convincing 22-9 victory. It was a fitting way to finish the tournament and confirm their place in the championship finals.

The girls should be incredibly proud of their efforts, as throughout the tournament injuries within the squad created additional challenges, requiring players to step into unfamiliar positions and adapt their game style. The girls embraced these changes with a positive attitude, demonstrating outstanding versatility and commitment to the team. Their willingness to support one another and take on new responsibilities was a key factor in the day's success.

Congratulations to all players on a fantastic achievement, and we wish them every success as they prepare for the Victorian Schools Championships Finals Day in Parkville on 2 September.

Mrs Hannah Gretgrix, Coach

YEAR 8 GIRLS: Emily Dullard (Helper), Cammie Fitzgerald, Emma Hietbrink, Eliza Main, Abby Colt, Scarlett Ramsey, Arie Dean, Mrs Hannah Gretgrix (Coach), Darcy Rodda, Colbie O’Bree, Macaila Bannan, Macey Nielsen, Zara Grieve

YEAR 7 GIRLS

Our Year 7 Netball team delivered an outstanding performance at the Victorian Schools Championships, winning all five of their matches to remain undefeated and secure a place in the Finals Day on 2 September at the State Netball Hockey Centre, Parkville.

The day began with a hard-fought 10-7 victory over Moama Anglican Grammar. The team then backed up this strong start with a 9-4 win against St Joseph's College Echuca White, demonstrating excellent defensive pressure and composure across the court.

Confidence continued to grow in the third match, with the girls producing a dominant 18-2 win over Girton Grammar School. They carried this momentum into their fourth game, defeating St Joseph's College Echuca Green 14-6 through strong teamwork and accurate shooting.

In their final match of the day, the team finished in style with a convincing 15-5 victory over Notre Dame College. This result capped off a remarkable undefeated campaign and confirmed their place in the championship finals.

Across the five matches, the girls scored an impressive 66 goals while conceding only 24. Their excellent teamwork, determination, sportsmanship and consistent effort were evident throughout the tournament.

Congratulations to all players on a fantastic achievement. We wish the team every success as they prepare for the Victorian Schools Championships Finals Day in Parkville on 2 September. Well done, girls!

YEAR 7 GIRLS: Mackenzie Jackson, Nellie Tobin, Makayla Jackson, Chloe McSwain, Lyra Haythorpe, Eden Rogers, Emerson Arundell (Helper), Mrs Clare Hope (Coach), Isabelle McCarthy, Lucy Beasley, Ivy Pinner, Isabel Baker, Perry Westley, Ariah Whittle