Wangaratta chronicle
Ripping rematch on the cards in B grade

For the fourth time in the space of 10 weeks, it’s Milawa up against Bonnie Doon in B grade netball, but this time, there’s silverware on the line.

Thanks to the fixture and their frenetic battles through finals, the Demons and Bombers are well acquainted with each other’s games.

Throw into the mix the B grade sides’ history, having faced off against each other in the last three premiership games, and it’s fair to say they’re not strangers on the biggest day of the year.

Milawa has only lost two games this season, both of them to the Bombers, most recently the 10-point loss in the qualifying final.

Demons’ coach Kim Michelini said her side enjoyed their tussles with Bonnie Doon, and would all pull together to get the result they’re after.

“We will come out with all guns blazing on the weekend,” she said.

“Our one-on-one match-ups are really good at the moment, we’ve got a lot of versatile players.

“We’re a very supportive group, we bring lots of different strengths and obviously some youth and more experienced players to the court.

“I think it’s camaraderie, just getting around each other.

“That’s how we’ve developed and been so successful over a lot of years, having those versatile players in the group.”

Michelini, alongside fellow shooting options Sophie Archer and Laura Sundblom, will need to be at their best to penetrate the iron wall that is Bonnie Doon’s Cass McCormack and Casey Thompson, as well as nullify league best and fairest winner Jess Harris.

Bonnie Doon head coach Michelle Tanner said she would back her players in to perform against the old enemy.

“It’s probably always going to be a high-emotion game for the B graders, especially when they play Milawa,” she said.

“It’ll just be about trying to keep that in check and trying to focus on our game plan.

“I think that qualifying final win did set us up quite well, the girls are confident going in they can do it.

“Grand final days are obviously completely different, but we’ve got a really strong team, a lot of depth on the bench – I feel we can throw everything we’ve got at them.”

The B grade grand final between Bonnie Doon and Milawa gets underway from 1.30pm.