September 23rd, 2025Hepburn Netball’s B Grade team win grand final
Hepburn Netball’s B Grade team defeated Springbank 31 to 27 at the recent grand final with best on court Summah Joyce from Hepburn.
Coach Gary Cooke, talking to The Local last Wednesday, said all three teams, A, B and C should have been in the grand finals.
“We hoped A would get in and play Daylesford again with a repeat of last year’s grand final and were gutted when that didn’t happen, but B and C both made it.
“Obviously C grade didn’t win on the day (Hepburn 26 were defeated by Bungaree 41) but B grade was a fantastic game. It was a neck and neck game. We were down by five or six at three-quarter time and then I think we shot 13 to three in that last quarter.
Gary said at the first night of training for the year the teams set themselves goals to win – train hard, get fit, make friends and achieve getting to a grand final.
“And it looked like we were all going to get there. The B grade worked their arses off, only lost the very first game in round one, and they went through and they didn’t lose a single game for the rest of the year.
“I just kept reminding them through the year that there’s something happening with this team. Something special. You’re all connecting. You’re momentum’s going. Your confidence is building. And they peaked at the right time. They truly deserved to be there and to win.”
Gary said the entire Hepburn Club had played well with, in August, three players, himself and an umpire voted to be in the Central Highlands Netball League Team of the Year.
They were: Coach of the Year – Gary Cooke, Captain/Shooter – Jane O’Donohue, Midcourt – Montaya Sardi, Defender – Katie Lindkvist and Umpire – Linley Eastick.
Gary said he was still deciding whether he would continue coaching the netballers next year.
“It is a big commitment. I’m working six days a week and coaching, holding training sessions, doing notes and then pre-planning for the year. I get to the end of the year and don’t know how I managed to squeeze it in. It’s a lot of work.”
Words: Donna Kelly | Image: Contributed
