WEDDERBURN has finished the North Central netball season as premiers and champions in A and B Grades.
The Redbacks unconquered A Grade netballers showed the value of squad depth in their eight-goal premiership win over Sea Lake Nandaly last Saturday.
At times the Redbacks had four North Central league best-and-fairest winners on the court at Donaldson Park in Wedderburn – Maddi Postle, Meg Lowry, Aliza Lockhart and this year’s runaway winner Kelsey Pallpratt.
Coach Susie Lockhart preached a team-first mantra all season and that was highlighted by best-on-court being awarded to Sea Lake’s goal defence Gabby Munari rather than any of the Wedderburn players.
The Redbacks gave up the first goal but quickly established what proved to be a match-winning lead of seven at quarter time.
The margin was nine goals at the last change and although the Tigers kept pressing, Wedderburn’s premiership-hardened team responded to every challenge to win their second title in a row.
The Redbacks embraced being the hunted team this season but also wanted to be seen as a respectful and fair opponent.
Holly Lockhart won the club’s best-in-finals award, stepping up as goal shooter late in the Sea Lake game, although her coach said it was hard to single out any player.
“All the way through the year we focused on the team and not the individual – the bench is just as much a part of everything that happens.”
Lockhart said from her view on the bench, her team was always in control of the grand final.
“I was really confident and quite at ease all day.”
Lockhart hopes her squad will remain intact for 2026 – both A and B Grade went through the season undefeated – while admitting Wedderburn needed to do more at junior level.
Keeping up the team spirit, the Redbacks introduced fines “for doing something totally stupid”, Lockhart said.
Missing the ring completely, arriving late for training and other misdemeanours attracted financial penalties to help fund the club’s end-of-season trip.
Even the coach had to cough up “for things I might have said at one stage”.
CALDER United was the last victim of the Wedderburn B Grade netball steamroller, with the Redbacks running away with a 21-goal win in the grand final.
Excellent shooting, a tight defence and mid-court control set the seal on an unbeaten season that was another testament to the club’s depth in senior netball.
Calder defended stoutly but Wedderburn always had the Lions’ measure, with a 13-goal lead entering the fourth quarter.
A 14-6 finale saw coach Aliza Lockhart’s team cruise to victory.
Lockhart, who later also appeared in the A Grade decider, was named best-on-court.
A SERIOUS knee injury to goal keeper Carly Drinkwater in the last five minutes of the C Grade grand final proved disastrous for Wedderburn.
Scores were tied when Drinkwater limped from the court and Calder United, which had led all day, steadied after her departure for a three-goal win.
The clash was declared the match of the day, with never more than three goals separating the two teams. The Lions’ superior intercepting ability was the decisive factor in a high-pressure game, which could have gone either way.