Grace Hammond passes overhead. Photos: Jordan Townrow.
In a lone down moment on an otherwise flag-ridden day, Tongala was overwhelmed by Nathalia in the A-grade final.
Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content
The Blues had come as close as anyone to downing a full-strength Purples, but apart from some early moments, there was little doubt who would walk away from Murray League finals day with the top netball title.
Jane Cook’s height was a key factor, the Purples goaler scoring 70 of her side’s 78 goals.
Towering Nathalia shooter Jane Cook was hard to miss out there, and her actions on the court were equally noticeable.
Her height, and ability to leverage it with strong hands and sure feet, defined the game.
Tongala's Tash Dodos takes possession.
If the Purples reached the attacking third, time after time the lofted pass would come in, and time after time, Cook would catch at the goal and make no mistake with her release point just a couple of feet below the ring.
When Tongala were perfect everywhere else, forcing turnovers in the midcourt and leveraging their own target goal shooter, Milly Brock, the Blues kept pace and even made a few runs, but too often Tonny wasn’t perfect and Nathalia continued to build a lead.
Abby Waasdorp collects in mid court.
Ahead 12 at halftime, things got out of hand after the break and Nathalia ran away with it 78-44.
“The girls wanted it so badly, Tonny coach Abby Pettifer said.
“All of them are local girls who just wanted to fight really hard for their town.
“They're a bit deflated at the moment, but they should hold their head up high because they've done us all really proud.
“We wanted to bring all of those locals back and really have a crack, and we did that, so I'm proud of them.”
Milly Brock lines up from outside.
On the dominance of Cook, Pettifer said her side was looking elsewhere for its advantages, but couldn’t convert consistently enough.
“You can't really do anything about (Jane) we needed to work harder elsewhere on the court,” she said.
“We needed to pick it off elsewhere, and we did, but, unfortunately, the nerves probably got the better of us and really those six that we were down at quarter time probably were six of our own mistakes.”
Corey Drennan distributes from the back.
Tonny has now been among the final three in A-grade for four seasons in a row, and after returning to the decider this year, and four wins in the other grades, there is plenty to be positive about at the club.
“We've (Tongala) got four out of five flags today,” Pettifer, who played in the B-grade final, said.
“We can't just dwell on the one that got away.
“Our depth is incredible as it's shown with four flags.
“From our 17s all the way up to our A-grade, we had a team in, so I think each year we just get bigger and better, and hopefully, we can keep some of our good local talent, and we can just keep pushing.”
Chicky Vick looks to finish at the ring.
Murray Netball League A Grade premier for 2026, Nathalia.
A-Grade best on court, Nathalia's Stephanie Gorrie.
27°C