IT HAS been a long road back to the grand final for Natimuk United sisters Cheryl Sudholz and Michelle Trigg.
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The sisters, along with stalwart defender Jo Taylor, are the only players remaining from the Ewes’ previous A Grade grand final appearance in 2004.
It was the last of five consecutive grand final appearances for Natimuk, and all of them ended with losses to Kalkee.
Ironically, both sisters had crossed to Natimuk in 2000 after a brief stint with the Kees when they moved from Lameroo, South Australia.
In the years since the Ewes last reached a grand final, the pair has transitioned from young players to team veterans – and learned a lot along the way.
Sudholz, 36, is now a co-coach of the team along with Shurl Skiller, and Trigg, 32, is one of the leaders of the young group.
Natimuk has played finals in almost every year since 2004 but a trip back to the premiership decider has eluded them until now.
Trigg said her mindset as a player was different from 10 years ago.
“I think we just want one premiership before we get too old,” she said.
“Cheryl got a couple of premierships at Kalkee I think, but it would be a lot more special to win one with Natimuk because we are life members there.
“We’re very excited to be back in the grand final, because we’ve been building up for a few years.”
Sudholz said the key to the Ewes’ season had been the blend of experience and youth.
She singled out young goal shooter Kirby Knight, who has been a member of interleague and state representative teams, as one of the driving forces.
“There are some exceptional young players and we feed off their enthusiasm and energy,” she said.
“The girls really listen to my coaching and try to take it in, and we all get along really well.”
But A Grade is not just a young person’s game.
Sudholz and Trigg know all the tricks of the trade and try to pass on their knowledge to the younger Ewes.
If Sudholz’s co-coach Skiller is an example to go by, they both have plenty of time ahead.
Skiller played at the highest grade until she was 50.
One of the biggest changes to the club in recent times has been the Natimuk and Horsham RSL Diggers merger to form Natimuk United.
While the administration of the club has changed, they said the netball remained much the same.
“We didn’t get many girls from Horsham United, so we’ve still got that core group of Natimuk players,” Sudholz said.
“We’re still the same group so we run like clockwork.
“I think the footballers admire us a bit because everything runs so smoothly.”
Trigg said both old Horsham RSL Diggers supporters and Natimuk stalwarts should get behind the club in its push for an elusive premiership tomorrow.
“Harrow-Balmoral will be there with their big army of supporters, so we need a lot of people to come and make some noise for us,” she said.
