Pies aiming for a clean sweep in junior grades

Sale’s Under 17 netball team has had a stellar year, boasting an undefeated status as they head into tomorrow’s GFNL Grand Final against the Maroons.

Despite being a young team, with almost all players of bottom age, Sale saw three of their U17 Magpies named in the league’s top 10 best and fairest, Isla McCarthy, Sienna Wynd and Kate Van Der Voort.

McCarthy, Wynd and Van Der Voort also play in Sale FNC’s A Grade side.

Sale FNC Under 17s coach Joe Ballinger expects a physical game in tomorrow’s GFNL Grand Final.

“Definitely will be a physical game,” said Ballinger.

“It should be fiercely contested. We have only beaten them, not by a lot; it could be anyone’s game.

“Even though we are undefeated, it will be tough.”

In tomorrow’s game, Sale is expected to draw strength in their attacking third from their tall goal shooter Kate Van der Voort and smart goal-attack Sienna Wynd, who both boast high shooting accuracy and work well together in the ring.

Isla McCarthy will be one to watch in the midcourt.

McCarthy is an incredibly smart player and, paired with her impressive speed, is a major on-court threat.

Another to watch tomorrow is Hannah Abdalla in wing defence, whose outstanding reading of play sees the Magpie fly in for intercepts left, right and centre.

Sale will draw strength in their defensive third through their highly active goal defender and goalkeeper.

Will the Maroons dethrone the Magpies of their undefeated status in tomorrow’s GFNL Grand Final, or will Sale swoop the victory under the guidance of coach Joe Ballinger and assistant coach Tash Bedggood?

Only time will tell.

Sale FNC’s Under 15s team, coached by Jo Ballinger and assistant coach Jodie Whykes, take to the courts tomorrow, meeting Traralgon FNC in the 2022 Gippsland Football Netball League Under 15s netball Grand Final.

It has been a tight competition between Gippsland League’s top three Under 15s teams this year, with Traralgon finishing on top of the ladder, Sale coming in second and Maffra third.

Traralgon and Sale finished the season with 17 wins and three losses, with goals against the differentiating factor.

With such a tight competition between the Magpies, the Maroons and the Eagles, Under 15s coach Jo Ballinger said the grand final qualifiers could have gone any way.

“We were lucky we got into the grand final first because the three teams are very good,” Ballinger said.

Sale beat Maffra 45 to 37 in the GFNL Qualifying Final and Traralgon 36 to 27 in the second semi-final.

The Magpies Under 15 goal shooter, Ella Gerrand, is undoubtedly one to keep an eye on in tomorrow’s game against the Maroons.

“She rebounds well, she’s an accurate shooter, she positions well, she’s got a really good hold and is a strong presence on the court,” Ballinger said.

Ballinger’s daughter, Mia Ballinger, who plays wing attack, came third in the GFNL’s best and fairest, with teammates Iesha Abdalla and Mahli Stothers coming equal eighth.

Gerrand and Ballinger harbour a strong on-court connection and dominate the shooting ring together, causing trouble for any defender.

Mahli Stothers, one of the Magpies’ bottom-age players, plays a key attacking role whether she is in centre or wing attack.

“She is smart, athletic and has got a really high work rate,” said Ballinger.

“She plays a key attack role; if she’s in wing attack, she plays second phase brilliantly.

“I think in our court structure in attack is the best,” she said.

In Sale’s defensive third, Jasmine Stewart in wing defence is an absolute workhorse who contests every ball, taking intercepts like toilet paper at the start of COVID.

“She can make a significant impact in the game,” Ballinger said.

The Magpies’ goal defence Jazz Anstee is a tenacious pressure in Sale’s defensive shooting ring.

“She’s a very persistent, relentless, committed player with great ability to execute when needed in attack; she boxes out extremely well and would be very annoying for a goal attack, that’s for sure,” Ballinger said.

Despite Sale’s goal defence and goalkeeper having never played together in the circle until the finals, their on-court partnership is pure dynamite for the Magpies’ defensive game.

The second game of the day is set to be a cracker.

Sale Football Netball Club’s Under 13 team will meet Traralgon FNC in the 2022 Gippsland Football Netball League Grand Finals opening game.

After losing to the Maroons in the semi-finals, coach Kara Wheeler says the Magpies will hit the court with force, determined to reclaim their dominance as the EGFNL’s elite.

“The girls will be digging deep to get them back for the semis,” said Wheeler.

Sale’s Ashly Reid and Maizy Duck, who came fourth and fifth in the GFNL’s Under 13s best and fairest, will be the ones to watch in the first grand final of the day.

Reid, who plays goal defence, uses her height and long arms to her advantage and is a rock in defence for Sale FNC.

“When she steps up, she steps up and reads the play really well,” Wheeler said.

Duck at centre is a relentless, dominating presence for Sale in the midcourt.

“She is a very determined player,” Wheeler said.

“When she goes, she goes.”

The Magpies draw strength from team captain Mackenzie Lett in their attacking third.

Lett, who transitions between goal shooter and goal attack, is a strong leader in Sale’s offensive game.

“She is a very accurate shooter; she has been our most consistent shooter all year,” Wheeler said.

One might assume that Sale’s Under 13s netball team would be nervous as they head into their first ever GFNL Grand Final but not these Magpies.

“They are far too laid back for my liking,” Wheeler said.

“But they are excited.”

Tomorrow’s opening match is expected to be of good quality, high intensity, and very physical, with the Maroons harbouring a handful of top-notch players.

Will the young Magpies take the premiership, or will the Maroons claim the victory?