After being pipped at the post in the past two deciders, Colbinabbin came out with a vengeance this season and has been the yardstick for the competition with an impeccable 17-0 record including its qualifying final win.
Conversley, it has been a hard road for the Mounts, who have a standing record of 13-5, having dropped a game to Elmore early in the season and lost to both White Hills and Colbinabbin twice in the home-and-away season.
While the Demons got the best of it again in the qualifying final, Mount Pleasant got the ultimate last laugh when the two sides met in the preliminary final last weekend, trumping the Demons 40-45 to book its place in the grand final.
In the pair’s two head-to-head encounters, the Grasshoppers defeated Mount Pleasant by a combined margin of 67 goals.
Colbinabbin A-grade coach Jen McIntyre reflected on her side’s astounding season while also noting the importance of sealing the deal in the grand final.
“We’ve had a pretty incredible season to go through so far undefeated and, you know, some pretty big wins as well,” she said.
“I don't think anyone's got within 30 goals of us, so it’s been fantastic, but we’ve still got to make sure we win on Saturday.”
McIntyre looked ahead to the meeting with Mount Pleasant and was expecting a good scrap to decide the flag.
“I think Mount Pleasant is a great club, Colbo and the Mounts do have a long-standing rivalry,” she said.
“They're a great team, So, we'll go into it expecting them to be dangerous and approach the game like that.
“We respect any opponent that we face and we've approached every game like it's a grand final this season.
“We have beaten them convincingly both times, but a grand final is a different matter.
“So, we'll approach them like we would any other opposition and just prepare.
“I don't want to give too much away with what we'll be looking to do, but, they're a really good, strong team, been building well, and they're well coached, so it should be a good game.”
McIntyre emphasised that the Grasshoppers would be doing all they could to get over the line to finally be crowned champions of the HDNL after recent disappointment.
The A-grade grand final will take place at Strauch Reserve on Saturday, September 13, with centre pass scheduled for 2.30pm.
Colbinabbin will also feature sides in the A-reserve and 13-and-under netball finals.
Taking down Mount Pleasant at the death 46-44, Colbinabbin’s A-reserve team punched its ticket to the grand final and will hash it out with Huntly to decide a champion.
The club’s 13-and-under netballers earned a second shot at minor premier Lockington-Bamawm United in the decider after prevailing over Elmore 22-18.
Colbinabbin president Tim Hill was proud of his teams’ success and said the club was preparing for an exciting grand final weekend
“It’s a great feeling and very well-deserved. We’ve got three teams in the grand final this season, so very proud and looking forward to it,” he said.
“It’s great to have some junior representation in the grand final and our two top teams, so we’ll have another good week of training and gear up for a big grand final weekend.
“It should be lots of fun.”
