NANA Grand Final Preview Its grand final week in Northern Areas and the excitement is building for what is set to be a cracking day for netball at Crystal Brook. A Grade Crystal Brook vs Orroroo - 3:00pm These two teams have been the two best teams all season by a long shot, often winning by large margins over the rest of the competition. This counts for nothing come Saturday however as Amanda Bowmans Roosters and Kate Abrahams Roos throw everything at each other for only one to be crowned champions at the end of the day. In a 2013 grand final rematch this could go either way. Crystal Brook will be boosted by a home ground and home crowd advantage that could just give them the edge on the day. If you are there on Saturday make sure you get to court one to see some of the associations best netballers do battle such as 2013 Association medallist Kate Abraham, 2012 Medallist Rebekah Rasheed and 2011 Runner-Up Emily Kirk. While Crystal Brook won easily the last time these two sides met, the grand final is a different kettle of fish. Both sides have a strong goal end, and the winners will be the team whos defensive end stands up on the day. Expect a close one but with the home court advantage and the pain of the 2013 premiership loss fresh in their hearts, im tipping Crystal Brook to win by 8. B Grade Jamestown Peterborough vs BMW - 12:00pm Jamestown Peterborough have been the best side all year in this competition who have benefit from the knowledge and experience of former A Grade premiership player Bernadette McCarthy. BMW however are on the charge. The lions beat a strong Crystal Brook outfit in the elimination, then annihilated Orroroo in the preliminary and will head into this contest full of confidence. The magpies should be worried, Im tipping an upset, BMW by 2 goals. C Grade BMW vs Jamestown Peterborough - 1:30pm BMW have boasted a team full of experience this season, so it is no surprise they have gone through undefeated. Joint 2014 C Grade association medallist Toni McCallum has dominated the competition in the mid court this year and I dont believe that the maggies have anyone who can shut down her direction and centimetre perfect feeds into the goal ring. The maggies will not be giving up without a fight, but expect BMW to win in a canter. D Grade BMW vs Crystal Brook - 3:00pm The dominance of the Orroroo D Grade team was ended swiftly by both BMW and Crystal Brook in two massive upsets through the finals. BMW with the week off would have rested their bodies while Crystal Brook were pushed right to the final whistle by Orroroo, only sneaking a 1 goal win to go through to the grand final. I think Crystal Brook may have played their grand final a week early and will have a tough task to get over BMW in this match. E Grade Crystal Brook vs Southern Flinders - 12:00pm I watched these two teams play at Laura in the Qualifying and there isnt a lot of difference between them. It was a hot day at Laura and it will be no different this week at Crystal Brook so fitness and concentration is important. This game will see the E Grade Association best and fairest Mel Katzorke and runner-up Michelle Malchow face off, although I think both of them would trade the individual accolades for premiership glory. Im tipping Southern Flinders in extra time. F Grade Crystal Brook vs Broughton Mundoora - 1:30pm These two sides faced off in the qualifying final two weeks ago in Laura and the margin was just 4 goals. In netball terms, that is nothing. Broughton Mundoora faced a tough Jamestown Peterborough outfit last week to sneak into the grand final by 5 goals. The Brookies will be well serviced by young gun Jessie Gale who was runner-up in the F Grade Association medal and her influence might just be enough to see them over the line. G Grade Southern Flinders vs Crystal Brook - 10:30am I have said all year that the G Grade competition has striking similarities to the leagues A Grade Competition. The G Grade boasts the finest junior netballers in the association and if you turn up at 10:30 Saturday, thats just what you will see. These two teams have been neck and neck all season with Crystal Brook perhaps having the slight edge through the season before going down to the tigers in the qualifying final. The tigers will miss key player Tash Harper who unfortunately suffered a serious ankle injury at Laura. The Brookies will be looking to capitalise on this and the young tigers will really need to hold strong again, as they did two weeks ago to get the job done. Southern Flinders in overtime. H Grade BMW vs Broughton Mundoora - 9:30am The Lions have gone through the season undefeated in this grade and I cant see that changing this Saturday. Broughton Mundoora put in a big effort to get over the top of a strong Southern Flinders team in the Preliminary final last week but it will be tough for them to back up with form strong enough to beat the lions. BMW by 11 goals. I Grade Jamestown Peterborough vs BMW - 10:30am Jamestown Peterborough will be breathing a sigh of relief that they do not have to match up against Southern Flinders this week after BMW beat them in the prelim. BMW have always been strong finals contenders in this grade and I expect nothing less here. Jamestown however have plenty of height in the goal end, and if they can get it down there enough they will be unstoppable. It will be close but Im tipping the magpies. J Grade Jamestown Peterborough vs Broughton Mundoora - 9:30am There is not a lot to say in this competition. Jamestown Peterborough have easily accounted for their opponents on every occasion but one this season and im predicting that they will have another big win on Saturday. These two teams met in the Qualifying final where Jamestown Peterborough were victorious by 11 goals. The eagles girls will try their little hearts out but I dont see an upset panning out here. Jamestown by 10. Good luck to all teams playing this Saturday, see you at Crystal Brook! **The views expressed here are my own and do not represent those of the Northern Areas Netball Association or the club I am associated with. **
Posted on: Tue, 09 Sep 2014 22:08:00 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015