By Topsy Underwood
FLAG favourites and minor premiers Beaconsfield bounced back from their first finals loss to roll Keysborough by 12 goals in Sunday’s preliminary final and earn another crack at Pakenham.
The game started with a bang and both teams matched up well in a physical contest.
The scores were close and it was geared up for a nailbiter.
League best and fairest winner Jasmine Maddocks was on fire all match and her athleticism in wing attack combined really well with Kellie Holland’s speed in the centre.
The pressure was on from the Keysborough defence and midcourters and the battle continued until during the third quarter when the game turned.
As the Eagles slowly increased their lead, Jo Amott tripped awkwardly on her ankle and what looked like one of Keysborough’s regular strategic time-out calls, actually proved to be legitimate.
Centre player Tarryn Munro stepped into the Keysborough goal attack position, but the Eagles lead continued to increase.
Jo returned late in the game which allowed Tarryn to move back to the midcourt and put on an awesome show, however Keysborough did not capitalise and made some strange changes, benching two of its strongest players.
Beaconsfield coach Shona Osborne also surprised onlookers by swapping Jacinta Goldsack with B-grade player Corinne Mackley, but Keysborough could not capitalise on it and Beaconsfield came away with the result in the end.
Against Pakenham, with the pennant on the line, Beaconsfield must now regroup and find the firepower that they had throughout the season.
The last two weeks have been quite flat and Beaconsfield needs to go into the grand final as a strong unit with no hesitation.
Pakenham has been developing self-belief in to its training program and is at its peak.
This is going to be a tough battle with some magnificent individual tussles.
Watch out for Pakenham Gazette Team of the Year debutants Melinda Williamson and Rachel Priestly in the goal ring for Pakenham.
The match up between Melinda and Beaconsfield star defender Bridget Gargan will be entertaining and it will be interesting to see how much close checking the umpires will allow.
Loyal Lions Michelle Webster, Lauren Cherry and Dani West will crave a victory over the now beatable Eagles and will play hard and tireless netball to that end.
It will be a cliffhanger and Beaconsfield will be out to get back at Pakenham after its semi-final loss, but it will also be glad that the pressure has been lifted after the loss two weeks ago.
May the sun shine and the crowds flock to the Toomuc Reserve courts for an cracking game that will keep everyone on the edge of their seats.
My pick is Beaconsfield by four goals in overtime.
