Tactical changes, experience and composure were all critical factors in a third straight grand final victory as Tigers denied the Demons with a fourth-quarter fightback for a 48-46 win. 

“They just want to win and they know they can do it,” Tigers coach Julie Cornell said. 

“I think they’ve got faith in themselves. They dig deep.”

The defending premiers were playing catch-up throughout as Collingullie-Glenfield Park got away to a flying start in the first quarter and responded to a Tigers’ resurgence in the second to still hold a seven-goal lead at half-time.

Tigers didn’t lead before the last five minutes when Lana Duffy put them not one but two goals clear. Even then it was heart-stopping, as Collingullie-GP came back to level at 43-all in an extraordinarily tense finish.

But a series of changes for Tigers were about to pay off with Tilly Vearing (to wing attack) and Jess Allen (to goal shooter) proving a masterstroke, working beautifully with the brilliant Duffy. All of sudden Tigers were up by four. 

“Jess never plays shooter but that’s what I had up my sleeve. I was sort of, ‘do I or don’t I?’ and I said, c’mon we’ve got five minutes to go. We need to make a change, see how it works, and it worked for us. So we were very fortunate,” Cornell said of a move that eased their reliance on Duffy, who produced a best on court performance. 

Again the Demons came back though, making up three goals, before Tigers went two clear again with the last shot of the game.

“They just don’t give up,” Cornell said. 

“They were determined and they took control of the ball and the game, and played their game. I said, ‘just relax and play your game. You can do it.’”

The coach instilled them with confidence but Cornell also made the big calls, moving Meg Reinhold to centre as well as switching Allen and Vearing out of defensive roles. 

“I just went – I’ve got to try something. I’m down by too much. If I don’t try anything, we haven’t got a hope,” Cornell said. 

“I was lucky enough that it worked. It turned the game around.”

She said the experience of Duffy, Allen, Olivia Tilyard, and Grace Cornell – who have played in all three premierships – was important.

And the team playing a lot of netball together, including for grand finalists Uranquinty in the Wagga netball competition, was also valuable.

It was Cornell’s fourth A Grade coaching success after taking Mangoplah-Cookardinia United-Eastlakes to two titles before consecutive victories with Wagga Tigers. (Meg Farmer was coach for Tigers’ 2016 win). 

“The girls just played so well,” Cornell said.  

“They’re so hard to come by (premierships) and I’m just so relieved now. And the footballers haven’t done so well (since 2016) and it’s so nice to see the girls be successful. I think it’s great for the club.”

It was a devastating blow for the Demons who were minor premiers for the fourth year in a row but continue to search for success.

It was their third grand final loss in those four years (and second time going down to Tigers) after recovering from the disappointment of not making the grand final last year.

Results:

A Grade: Wagga Tigers 48 d Collingullie-GP 46

Best on Court: Lana Duffy (Tigers)

A Reserve: Turvey Park 44 d Collingullie-GP 38

Best on Court: Alex Byrne (TP)

B Grade: Turvey Park 43 d Leeton-Whitton 32

Best on Court: Joanne Wade (TP)

C Grade: Collingullie-GP 36 d Turvey Park 21

Best on Court: Olivia Harper (CGP)

Under 17: Turvey Park 33 d MCUE 32 

Best on Court: Alice Toohey (TP)