Strong bond the key for gritty Eagles

While East Geelong got to celebrate what every player from every club at every level craves – a premiership – it was the friendships and camaraderie that rewarded coach Justine Radford the most this season.

The new-look Eagles welcomed in three Under 19 players to the squad while retaining the experienced Steph Boyce, Claudia Cook, Shannon Pietsch and Jenelle Baker.

It paid off with a pulsating 29 to 24 win against a gallant Winchelsea in the grand final.

Radford said a strong bond off the court was just as important as her team’s performances on it.

“They spent a lot of time gelling outside of training and outside of game time, and they’re just really good friends,” she said.

“Not only within A Grade, but the whole club. It speaks of the culture at the club and to me, that’s the most rewarding part.

“They hang out, they do strength and conditioning training with one of the other A Grade girls who runs that.

“A couple of the girls come to my house on a Friday night for spaghetti and meatballs. There’s genuine friendships and the girls are just so lovely and inclusive.

“There is a big spread of ages. I think 16 is our youngest all the way through to 41 in that A Grade side. Friendships just flourished in that team and it’s beautiful to see.”

While the Eagles led for most of the grand final, Winchelsea hit back several times and showed real character.

“Winchelsea threw a lot at us and they have great players, credit to them,” Radford said.

“But our girls just dug deep and every time they put a few goals on, we just pushed ahead again.”

When it was put to Radford that her side was “gritty” in its resolve, she agreed. It is not a glamorous word, but grand finals are rarely won on talent alone.

“You used the term ‘gritty’ and that’s a term that I’ve been using with these girls for the last few seasons,” she said.

“They are gritty players and they knew coming into that game that it was going to be challenging. We had lost twice to them throughout the season and the message going into the grand final was that they need to be brave and confident and lock down in defence.

“But ‘gritty’ is definitely the word that I would be using and I feel like they were just determined to win that one.”

The day was extra special for Frankie Willson, Sylvie Jarvis, Mikayla Ferguson, who all played in the Eagles’ 19 & Under premiership and then got court time in the A Grade flag.

The 19s are coached by Maddie Solly, who was judged best on court in the A Grade game. Solly, a teacher at North Geelong Secondary College, is now a premiership captain in just her second season at the club.

“Maddie’s a beautiful soul and she just brings something so strong to the club,” Radford said.

“She had an immediate impact as a captain. And Steph Boyce was captain previous to that – she’s fabulous as well.

“Maddie bought some of the strategies she probably uses at school on how to get the team working together just to bring the fun and the joy into netball.”