KDL | Lakers prepare for cut-throat preliminary final against Dookie United

By Zac Standish

Sep 5, 2022

One step away: Nagambie coach Katie Sullivan is excited for the challenge of a preliminary final against Dookie United on Sunday. Photo by Megan Fisher

For coach Katie Sullivan and her Nagambie A-grade netball team, it all comes down to this.

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After spending much of the Kyabram District League season on top of the ladder, and never falling below third spot, the Lakers now find themselves just one win away from a spot in the 2022 grand final.

And they can punch their ticket to the big dance on Sunday afternoon, when they face Dookie United at Girgarre Recreation Reserve in a cut-throat preliminary final.

Sullivan said she could not wait to get into it after having last weekend off.

“It was probably what we expected (playing against Dookie United). I had a feeling the prelims would be the top four teams on the ladder and that is how it eventuated,” Sullivan said.

“We are excited for the challenge Dookie United will present. They are a very impressive side with a lot of good players, so we go in expecting a very tight tussle that will go right down to the wire.

“Hopefully we can rise to that challenge and win our way into the grand final.”

It will be the second meeting between the two teams this season. Nagambie was dominant in its efforts back in round six, recording a 55-34 victory on its home court.

But a lot of water has gone under the bridge since then, with the Thunder’s eye-catching end to the season making them a much different proposition this time around.

“We know Dookie has a huge defensive game, their defensive pressure is outstanding and they got a lot of hands to balls,” Sullivan said.

“We certainly don’t go into the game complacent, especially after only winning a couple of quarters against Tally in our last match, so we will need to be at our best all over the court to get the job done.”

One thing that Nagambie does have on its side is a wealth of experience, with the likes of Sullivan and star shooter Sharni Lloyd having played in a number of cut-throat finals over the journey.

Sullivan said her team knew what it took to come away victorious on the preliminary final stage.

“We know to win a prelim it is very similar to a grand final, with the do-or-die situation of it,” Sullivan said.

“We certainly need to draw from our past experience. Just about all of us have been in losing prelims as well as a losing grand final, so we know that feeling and hopefully we are the better end of that feeling on Sunday.”