Yeah the Boisdale-Briagolong girls!
Boisdale-Briagolong Football-Netball Club’s A Grade netball team is making history, after winning their semi-final last weekend against Wy Yung 49 to 39 and securing their spot in the East Gippsland Football Netball League 2022 Grand Finals for the first time.
Since switching to the East Gippsland League from the Riverina Football Netball League, Boisdale-Briagolong’s A Grade netball team have never made a grand final, winning their last premiership in the now extinct Riviera FNL in 2001 – more than 20 years ago.
Will 2022 be the year that Boisdale-Briagolong finally make their mark on the premiership board with their first-ever Grand Final win? Only time will tell.
Leading Boisdale-Briagolong to the premiership round is none other than A Grade coach Sarah Gardiner.
Formerly a Sale Football-Netball Club player, Gardiner has been playing A Grade netball for Boisdale-Braigolong FNC coming on five years, with this year marking her second year as playing coach.
Despite being young in her coaching career, not only has Gardiner formed a new team and guided, mentored and supported them from their very first game together in Round 1 through to the Grand Final, Gardiner has a team whose close bond is indisputable, whether on or off the court.
Watching Boisdale-Briagolong play with their quick, fluid movement down the court, their composure, communication and collaborative play, you would have guessed this team had been playing together for years, not weeks, so kudos to Gardiner for her coaching abilities.
A shout-out should be made to Boisdale-Briagolong FNC, as the entire A Grade netball team sang praise of their club’s inclusive and supportive environment when speaking to the Gippsland Times in the lead-up to the EGFNL Grand Final.
Before Boisdale-Briagolong’s EGFNL Qualifying Final on Saturday, August 20, the Bombers were yet to win a game against Wy Yung, having lost to the Tigers 49 to 38 in Round 14 and 52 to 36 in Round 7.
The only other team to beat Boisdale-Briagolong this season was Lakes Entrance in Round 8, scrapping a 48 to 42 win.
As the EGFNL qualifiers approached, the Bombers prepared for battle, ready to fight; and fight they did.
“Wy Yung had beat us in the rounds, and we beat them for the first time last weekend to get into the Grand Final,” Gardiner said.
“It was awesome; we came out high intensity, ready to go and just got it done.
“We played really well, probably the best we’ve ever played.
“Going into the game, we knew it was going to be physical; we are quite a young team, and we really stepped up our fight.”
Boisdale-Briagolong’s A Grade netball team is practically bursting with excitement for this weekend’s Grand Final at Bairnsdale.
“We are all so excited and all so positive; the vibes are high,” Gardiner said.
With Wy Yung being one of the league’s most physical teams and having everything to prove in the Grand Final, the Bombers are prepared to step up their fight against the Tigers even further.
With Rachel Weatherley, Gardiner in goal attack, Linley Bertacchini as centre, Ashlee McDonough in wing attack, Huts as goal shooter, Elly Weatherley as goalkeeper and Emerson Connolly in goal defence, will Boisdale-Briagolong A Grade netball team finally claim a premiership?
