Saturday, September 3, was a record-breaking day for Boisdale-Briagolong Football-Netball Club, with all its teams in the East Gippsland Football-Netball League Grand Final taking out premierships.
A Grade broke a 21-year-long drought, and the Under 15s broke a whopping 37-year-long drought, both teams winning their first Grand Final in the East Gippsland FNL.
Not to take away from the incredible achievements of all teams involved, but Boisdale-Briagolong’s D Grade and Under 17s teams also made extraordinary history: they won the first-ever Grand Final in D Grade and Under 17s in Boisdale-Briagolong FNC history.
It was an incredible season for Boisdale-Briagolong’s D Grade team, which remained undefeated.
Sadly, this team was here for one season and one season only.
“Two of our girls are now retired, myself and Vin Donohue,” D Grade playing coach Michelle McQuillen said.
“We also have two girls going up to C Grade, Adelle Kelly and Taryn Cunningham.”
For playing coach McQuillen, the Grand Final was the most incredible way to say goodbye to competitive netball, as the Bomber now hangs up her shoes in retirement.
“It was amazing, super amazing,” she said. The EGFNL Grand Final was McQuillen’s 324th and final game.
“I was actually a bit sad [heading into the game],” she said. “The nerves didn’t kick in until the first siren to start the game, but I have finished on 324 games, and that was my first-ever Grand Final.
“It was a lot of our girls’ first Grand Final and the second Grand Final of the day for two of my girls – my Under 15s girl Lilly McQuillen and Under 17s girl Emily Jensen.”
To add to the momentous occasion, the EGFNL Grand Final marked Adelle Kelly’s 250th game.
Behind the young Bombers who are writing Boisdale-Briagolong Football-Netball Club history, supporting, mentoring and inspiring the Under 17s are Rachel and Elly Weatherley.
“This is the first time Under 17s have made, now won, a Grand Final in club history,” said the Weatherleys.
“Nerves definitely got to them in the first quarter, I think,” Elly said.
“After that, I think they were composed, and they definitely wanted that win, like they really wanted that,” Rachel said.
“Just their team connection and their support of each other on the court, it paid off.”
For most girls in Boisdale-Briagolong Football-Netball Club’s Under 17s team, who are top age, the EGFNL Grand Final marked their last game as Under 17 players.
