Blaze’s finals journey ended early in 2018 when they lost to Hawks Netball, who would go on to become the 2018 premiers.
A dominant season and ferocious finals campaign, Blaze are now thriving after becoming the most recent team to take out a Grand Final for their club.
Playing against Boroondara, the Grand Final match ups were more than fans could have hoped for. Victorian Fury’s Tegan Stephenson defending star goaler Abigail Gedge, the diverse Abbey Ryan taking on ‘the Courtney Bruce of Blaze’ Nakita Singe, and opposing Captains Sam Coppinger and Emma Wallmeyer both playing in attack for their teams.
The first quarter demonstrated the unwavering determination that both sides have been known for all season. Taking the first centre pass, Blaze came out quick to secure the first goal of the match within seconds.
The tone of the match was quickly set as the first quarter progressed with frequent turnovers that showcased the tight defensive play from both teams
Pressure in the midcourt intensified in the second quarter. Boroondara began to feel the pressure as strength in Blaze’s defence forced them to rush passes and attempts at goals.
In Centre for Blaze, Meg Williams footwork was fancy and fast, assisting her movement around the circle edge. Pairing well with Abigail Gedge and Bron Taylor, the trio predicted their passes with precision. With Blaze’s Nakita Singe having a standout quarter in Goal-Keeper, Blaze took a dominant lead at the end of the second quarter that they were able to hold in the final half.
The passion for gold was highlighted by Meg Williams and Ruby Barkmeyer who drove so hard for the ball they had not one, but two heavy collisions.
It was Blaze’s hard work early in the match to secure and maintain their lead that saw their faces light up as the siren sounded to see they were now the reigning Division One premiers.
One player who’s face lit up from the win was Meg Williams who also received Player of the Match.
“It honestly feels so amazing to have won last night,” she said. “We were a brand new team this year and I think if you look at our progression from the start of the year to now is just phenomenal,
“It’s obviously nice to receive player of the match but it honestly just goes back to the team and the girls just bringing out the best in me- so it’s a credit to them,
“It was a whole team effort last night and we all played for each other and for the club which made it that extra bit special.”
Coach for the Blaze team, Sarah Hogan, also felt the specialty of the Grand Final moment and couldn’t have been any prouder of her girls’.
“I’m just so pleased for them because we’ve had so many of those girls that have been at the club for a long period of time and it gives it that much more meaning,
“Sam and Bron have been at Blaze since it started and they really are the heart and soul of the club. For them to have this success after being so loyal to the club is amazing.
“Also players like Ruby Tidd, Georgia Bowkett, Nakita Singe, Meg Williams, they’ve been with us for over fiver years so it’s just been so nice for us to have retained them and trained them and get them to here and to have rotated them all on in the Grand Final.”
“Blaze really just needs to be commended for the culture they’ve set up. They put the player first and that contributes to what you could call our ‘family like bond’ at Blaze.”
