The sun has set on the 2024 Goulburn Valley League season, and unfortunately for Benalla, it ends, results wise, on a disappointing note.
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Benalla's Jacqueline Foster loads up an underhand pass. Photo by Brenden PaddockImage 2 of 10
Benalla defenders watch on as Tatura's Julia Clarke lifts a shot on goal. Photo by Brenden PaddockImage 3 of 10
Benalla's Chloe Elliott is obstructed by Tatura's Jasmine Fraser. Photo by Brenden PaddockImage 4 of 10
Benalla's Chloe Elliott drops a bounce pass into Ella Sheehan. Photo by Brenden PaddockImage 5 of 10
Tatura's Molly Kennedy tries to spoil a pass into Benalla's Natalie Pritchard. Photo by Brenden PaddockImage 6 of 10
Benalla's Bridget Hill waits for an option to present itself. Photo by Brenden PaddockImage 7 of 10
Benalla's Sarah Osborne looks to progress the ball higher up the court. Photo by Brenden PaddockImage 8 of 10
Benalla's Ella Sheehan flicks the ball in the attacking end. Photo by Brenden PaddockImage 9 of 10
Benalla's Megan Morrison spins with the ball in defence. Photo by Brenden PaddockImage 10 of 10
Benalla's Sarah Osborne tosses up a hail mary. Photo by Brenden PaddockThe task was a tall one before the first whistle blew, as the last-placed Saints took on a red-hot fourth-placed Tatura, bringing with it a four-game winning streak.
Benalla jumped out of the blocks, scoring four in row to find an early lead. Ella Sheehan was the Saints’ scoring star, netting all eight of her team’s first-quarter score.
“Ella has had a really good second half of the season. She’s worked on her self-belief and the second half of the season she’s certainly stepped on with more confidence and it’s showing,” coach Jo Toms said.
Unfortunately for the Saints, the Bulldogs found the best of their game in the second term. It was a dominant one for Tatura, as it outscored Benalla by nine, taking a 26-13 lead into half-time.
“You can’t play catch up in this league,” Toms said definitively. However, positives were found, with Toms forever proud of her group.
“For us, even though the scoreline was a 22-goal deficit, it’s certainly a big winner for us,” Toms said.
“First time we played them we lost by 50, so if we compare the improvement, I know it’s not a win, but the last game, we haven’t won all year but every single team member gave 100 per cent for the entire one hour. To me, the commitment they’ve shown on and off the court this year, is probably better than winning a game in such difficult circumstances.”
Benalla fought hard against a finals-bound Bulldog outfit, but was outscored 30-21 throughout the second half, just unable to find a way back in the game.
“It’s just those lapses, and not being able to adapt quick enough and then all of a sudden they’ve got five or 10 on us”, Toms said.
“We have the players there, it’s just a matter of gelling a bit more and knowing when to adapt.”
For head coach Toms, it was not only her last game coaching, but her last time taking the court as a player.
“I will be hanging up the netball boots as a player and a coach and taking some time with my family”, Toms said.
“I’ll miss the camaraderie between everyone, especially this year, because it has been such a tough year,” Toms said proudly.
“Because it has been such a tough year, knowing that not one of them ever didn’t come to training or couldn’t be bothered, or never gave me 100 per cent no matter what, I’ll miss those. The team effort and the bond that we had this year was really good. It was fun and off the court,” she said.
“The club has been amazing to work for, to be around, and just to see it develop, and hopefully whoever they get in next can help continue that,” Toms said.