The League Grand Final featured a historic match-up between reigning premiers Contax and challengers Oakdale Netball Club.
For Oakies, the match marked their first appearance in the big dance since 2009, after the side levelled the Blues for wins with 12 apiece in the regular rounds.
Contax got the jump early with defensive wins from goal keeper Jazmin McKay, but Oakdale’s goal keeper answered the call with gains of her own to level the score.
The league’s leading goal scorer Asha Thurlow was a clear target for Oakdale early as she found her way to post from all areas of the circle.
The Blues’ moving circle of Jordi Vidmar and Emily Laird found their rhythm, making life easier for their midcourters to feed into the circle.
They entered the first break up by five goals, 14-9.
Relentless defense from Contax allowed them to disrupt Oakdale’s attack end, forcing a change at wing attack as Nat Sligar entered the match and Brianna Gibbs moved into centre.
A late win by Oakdale’s defensive combination of Kaili Cook-Shackles and Mikayla Schache helped their side draw the scoreline back to six at the main break, 25-19.
Oakies were hot on defence at the start of the third quarter but struggled to capitalise on their gains.
McKay created a near-unbreakable final wall of defence in the second half of the quarter and the Blues extended their lead to 10 at three-quarter time, 36-26.
An injury to Contax goal defence Tabitha Packer forced her to the bench, shifting McKay to goal defence and bringing young gun Anna Goad into goal keeper.
The change did not shake the Blues as the reigning premiers stormed home to secure their fourth-consecutive premiership, 50 to 35.
Post-match, Jazmin McKay was named Player of the Match.
