ZOE ASKEW
NETBALL
GIPPSLAND LEAGUE
BY ZOE ASKEW
IT could have been anyone’s game, but in the end, Leongatha outflew Maffra in the Gippsland League C Grade netball Grand Final, taking home the 2022 premiership in a nail-biting 34 to 31 victory.
Maffra centre Bree Burgiel was outstanding from the first centre pass, showcasing fantastic
court movement and relentless determination.
Burgiel’s strength in midcourt married well with the Eagles’’ strong wing attack, Maddie Davis, whose ability to read the game, smart ball placement and mobility played a fundamental aspect in Maffra’s attacking game.
In the Eagles’ defensive third, goalkeeper Brooke Anderson and goal defence Ella Schacht
executed their dominating strength and powerful player collaboration.
Hannah Stubbe performed fantastically for the Eagles in the shooting ring, showcasing
her explosive vertical jump and high shooting accuracy.
Maffra took an early lead, but Leongatha was the better team in the second quarter.
The Parrots drew strength from their centre, Izabelle Grabham-Andrews, who exercised an
unwavering tenacity and impressive athleticism throughout the game.
Leongatha’s goalkeeper Ash Payne had a stellar performance, making several jaw-dropping
intercepts and maintaining a dominant physical presence in the shooting ring.
The Parrots goal defender, Jude Reynolds, also put forward a star performance.
Scores sea-sawed and the crowd grew louder by the second as time ticked by, second by second, minute by minute.
Deafening cheers rang across the Moe court as teams scrambled for another goal, desperate to claim their rightful titles as 2022 premiers.
But in the end, there would only be one winner.
The final whistle sounded, and the game was over.
Leongatha FNC’s C Grade netball team claimed the Gippsland League premiership,
beating Maffra in a nail-biting, hair pulling, armpit sweating, four-quarter battle.
