The City West Falcons had to use every trick in the book to claim a remarkable fourth straight Victorian Netball League championship on Wednesday night.
Already the most successful club in VNL history, the Falcons pulled off a second half comeback that will go up among their best in history.
The minor premiers were down and out for the count in the first half against the Hawks in the grand final.
After losing to the Hawks in the semi finals, the side’s only loss of the year, the Falcons found themselves down by nine goals in the second quarter on Wednesday night.
The young Hawks were up and about and the Falcons looked headed for grand final heartache.
There was a pulse and things started to turn to the Falcons way.
It was back to just three goals at the final break with the Falcons crowd getting into the game.
The Falcons hit the front in the last quarter before it was back on the centre pass.
It gave the Hawks the opportunity to win the game in the final minute.
But a missed shot from Jessica Tetley was rebounded by Charity Nasalio and it was quickly done to Jane Cook to put the Falcons in front.
Cook would score the sealer in the dying seconds, with the Falcons winning 60-58.
Falcons coach and birthday girl, Marg Lind, said it was pretty incredible what they had done.
“I can’t believe that,” she said. “It nearly caused a heartache on the bench for a number of the staff.
“All the homework we did, we threw out the door as it wasn’t working. We had to swallow our pride and rethink it
“I thought we were done and was philosophising on the bench thinking we weren’t going to come back from this.
“Then just this little piece of hope and it came.”
Lind said she felt quite confident coming into the game that they would win, but was rethinking her thoughts midway through the game.
She said the Hawks came ready to play.
“I thought they were outstanding and they played a really smart game in the first half,” she said. “We didn’t react early enough, it was that momentum in the second half.
“We got a bit of momentum and I think our experience in the end really counted for something in that last five minutes.
“It was really hard to watch.”
Lind said the message to the group at half time was about reducing the margin to four goals heading into the final quarter to give themselves a chance, which they did.
While they had momentum, Lind wasn’t sure they would have the legs to run out the game.
Adding to the drama, Falcons centre Montana Holmes left the court with a foot injury in the third quarter.
Lind admitted afterwards they believe that Holmes had torn her plantar fasciitis.
Maggie Lind has been battling a tibialis posterior muscle injury and shouldn’t haven’t been playing.
Jane Cook revealed after the game that she had also injured her hamstring in the Hawks semi final loss.
“We were cooked and I think they were cooked too,” Lind said. “Everyone threw so much at it, the last quarter was just a drag.
“It was who could get the opportunity when it counted. We got that one little opportunity.”
Lind said the moment she felt they would get the win was when goal attack Olivia Cameron picked up a turnover late in the piece.
Cameron finished with four goals from five attempts after playing three and half quarters was named player of the match.
“I thought Jane [Cook] and Liv were our two best on,” Lind said. “We beat Boroondara with Maddie [Romios] and really did not give Liv much opportunity but tonight [Wednesday] it was the reverse.
“That’s the beauty of the team. Everyone got on, everyone played a role.”
The move of Lucia Fauonuku into wing defence in the second quarter also played a key in the turnaround.
Cook finished the game with 55 goals for the Falcons.
Lind was full of praise for the crowd.
“When they started shouting defence we started to get a little bit more turnover,” she said. “We knew we needed a good crowd and we prepped that as well.
“Altona Netball Association, all their staff were sitting behind the nets.
“The feeling of community makes the club special and helped us get the win.”
Lind admits she could have never imagined winning four straight premierships at the start of the season.
Soli Ropati and Mel Oloamanu both missed the whole season with injuries, while Uneeq Palavi didn’t play a game due to SSN commitments.
“It’s really rewarding,” Lind said. “It’s been a great team this year, going undefeated [in the regular season.
“They are good friends that paid off in the end.”
It’s the first time they won four in row and it’s their ninth top flight championship overall.
