Rumbalara and Nathalia share final thoughts ahead of Murray Netball League A-grade decider

For the Purples, 2007 was the last time they made it to the promised land.

Tracey Brereton last led Nathalia to an A-grade premiership and, almost two decades later, will again be on the sidelines hoping to will her charges over the line.

Standing in the way of a fairytale ending is Rumbalara.

The reigning premier has been on a warpath in 2025, finishing the home and away season undefeated and producing a six-goal come-from-behind victory over Nathalia in the semi-finals.

However, the invincible tag comes with a cost, and playing coach Jess Bamblett is all too familiar with the feeling.

“It's going to be a tough game, so I feel like a lot of pressure’s on my shoulders,” she said.

“Nathalia is a really good, strong outfit and with the coaches they've got it's pretty intimidating with Tracey Breton and Kara Blizzard on the bench.

“I'm looking forward to it — excited and nervous at the same time.”

Bamblett expects Nathalia to “throw the kitchen sink at us”.

But after playing the Purples three times throughout the season and emerging victorious in every one, Rumbalara is braced to weather whatever steel - kitchen or otherwise - comes their way on Saturday.

Sun Tzu once said a good attack is the secret of defence - and Rumbalara can take a leaf out of The Art of War for its grand final battle.

Rumba will be fronted by recently crowned back-to-back MNL A-grade best-and-fairest Jessie Barnes-Hill, a player Bamblett has much admiration for.

“Jessie’s huge not just on the court but off the court. Her presence is massive and she’s a role model, especially with the young juniors watching,” she said.

“The thing is, you've got two shooters in there — if you shut down one, you’ve got to shut down the other — so Sophie Atkinson will be ready for that challenge.”

Hoping to put a stop to Rumbalara’s premiership plans is Ashlee Cann.

The Nathalia defender crossed over from Shepparton before last season and has played more than 300 games at A-grade level, forming part of the Purples’ resurgence that has seen the side go from ninth to second in just three years.

But they’re not done yet.

“We've obviously got a lot of new players to the club as well this year, which has strengthened what we already had,” Cann said.

‘All we wanted to do really is just build on what the club's already got and then try and get them back into the finals after 18 years.

“Now, 18 years later, we’re in another one.”

Nathalia is an undeniably slick outfit from head to toe, complemented by the new 2025 additions.

Aimee Sidebottom has been a shooting lodestar since crossing from Katunga, and while it may have taken a couple of games to get rolling, ex-Shepparton United midcourter Laura Cole has been the one to catch Cann’s attention.

“I think everyone has played their role at the times we've needed each area to step up, but Laura Cole's been a big one this year,” she said.

“Coming into a new club, maybe at the start of the season she had to find her feet, but I think she's really finished strong and been really, really big for us.”

The Purples’ experience and full-court defensive pressure will be crucial against a Rumbalara side unstoppable in 19 games this season.

Cann and co are confident their brand of netball stacks up against the champs, and whichever way the momentum swings on Saturday will be a telling difference.

But if Bamblett’s final message is any indicator, Rumbalara won’t be handing over its title easily.

“Foot on the throat - that’s our saying at the moment,” she said.