ZAIDA GLIBANOVIC
By ZAIDA GLIBANOVIC
NETBALL TO end on a high. Three Gippsland native netballers just won an Australian Netball Championship with the Collingwood Magpies in what would be the last hurrah for the clubs netball program. The Magpie side fought back from a six-goal deficit in the final quarter to beat the NSW Swifts 57 to 55 at the Morayfield Sports and Events Centre north of Brisbane last Sunday. Shannon Freeman who took out the Gippsland Leagues 2022 best and fairest playing for Morwell, was among the Collingwood side that stunned the competition so too was Wonthaggi’s Zali Anderson and Sale’s Montana Holmes. The team full of local stars looked unlikely after an injury to their star goal shooter Jane Cook shook the team early in the tournament. But that didn’t stop the Magpies who progressed all the way to the final off the back of some great defensive pressure. The NSW Swifts academy side looked the sure favourites going into the Grand Final, they dominated the play with a comfortable lead with only 10 minutes left on the clock. But it wasn’t over yet as the Magpies gritted their teeth and showed a determination to get back into the game. The Collingwood side sunk 20 goals in the last term to secure a victory for the ages. In the club’s last appearance in the netball program as they decided to pull the plug on the Magpies Super Netball team – the side had a never say die attitude and a perseverance to finish on a high. The Magpies’ squad included the 2023 Collingwood Super Netball training partners in Sale’s very own Holmes and was coached by former Collingwood Magpies SSN Assistant Coach and North East Blaze Specialist Coach Kate Upton. Though the Magpies team may not exist anymore, the local stars will no doubt attract some attention from other clubs off the back of their incredible Australian championship performance.
