Thomson captain Amelia Jarvis knows that this Saturday’s Geelong & District Netball League A Grade grand final against Belmont Lions probably won’t mirror the second semi-final of two weeks ago.
In that game, the Tigers smashed the Lions 68 to 25, to advance directly to the decider, but Jarvis said she was expecting a different game this week.
Thomson started the game slowly, but then an early injury to Angelique Ross put the Lions on the back foot early.
“I feel like we came out of the blocks probably a touch slow that game and then once we got one intercept we then started building and started creating a bit of that dominance within that first quarter,” Jarvis said.
“Then an unfortunate injury to Belmont (Ross) and then we continued to build after that.
“This week coming, we just need to come out of the blocks a bit quicker, a bit stronger, a bit hungrier and be ready from that first whistle.”
Jarvis said the week off came at a great time for her personally.
“Some of the girls probably might not agree, but personally I do love a week off,” she said.
“It just allows you time to reset, adjust some mindsets if you need to, and also have another squizz at them against a different opponent as well so that was nice.”
While Thomson will enter the game as favourites, Jarvis said both teams deserved to be there.
“There’s always got to be a favourite – I’m happy to be a favourite,” she said.
“We’ve been the two best teams this season so I think it’s honestly a level playing field. Scrap everything else that’s happened, it’s an absolutely level playing field going into Saturday.”
The Tigers have two strong focal points in attack in Bree Caldwell and Emma Witham.
“I played with Bree at Anglesea and our connection is always on, it’s always good,” midcourter Jarvis said.
“She’s like the Scott Pendlebury of the comp – time stops when she catches the ball and she’s able just to move really well.
“And then Emma, her attitude, her ability, her athleticism. She does so much that not many people actually give her credit for. She’s absolutely the best player out there at the moment and one to watch on Saturday.”
While Thomson has recent grand final experience, Jarvis said things were slightly different this time around.
“We’re a completely different team,” she said.
“We’ve got a lot of people that don’t have much finals experience and there’s a couple of us that have played in a grand final, but I don’t think any of us have actually won an A Grade final. We’re all as hungry as each other.”
Belmont Lions co-captain Angelique Ross will miss the game with a ruptured ACL (see story page 33), but said her team has benefitted from playing each week in the finals series and was very happy to have underdog status.
“We love that title, don’t mind that at all,” she said.
“We’ve had our pressure, we’ve had our battles, we’ve come across adversity, like injuries, so we’ve done it the hard way (and now there’s) one to go.”
The Lions were active on the recruiting front, bringing in coach Shayna Brown and Webb Medallist Molly Gribble from Corio and goaler Ella Wasik from Bannockburn.
“It’s always nice when you get talent wanting to join your club,” co-captain Sophie Allison said.
“It means you’ve obviously got a good culture and people are wanting to come and you’re never going to say no to a Molly Gribble or an Ella Wasik coming across.
“They’ve been really good additions and they’ve really brought into what we’re about.”
Allison said the team had already put aside the disappointing semi-final performance and backed it up with a superb prelim final against Inverleigh.
“I think we were nervous, but we go in with nothing to lose and everything to prove and we’ve got the whole club behind us so it is really exciting,” she said.
“It was a good test for us, a good opportunity for us to show our mental resilience and come back.”
GRAND FINALS
Saturday September 20, St Albans Reserve
A Grade: Thomson vs Belmont Lions, 1.45pm
B Grade: Thomson vs Inverleigh, noon
C Grade: East Geelong vs North Geelong, 11am
D Grade: Inverleigh vs East Geelong, 10am
E Grade: East Geelong vs Inverleigh, noon
19 & Under: Bannockburn vs Bell Post Hill, 9am
17 & Under: East Geelong vs Werribee Centrals, 8am
15 & Under: Bannockburn vs Anakie, 9am
13 & Under: Inverleigh vs East Geelong, 8am
