Undefeated Foster take A Grade flag with 34-goal win over Yinnar
Goal attack Brylee Angwin shot 40 of Foster's 63 goals as the Tigers closed out a season without a single loss
FOSTER HAVE finished the season without losing a game, beating Yinnar 63-29 to take the Mid Gippsland A Grade netball premiership at Meeniyan Recreation Reserve on Saturday.
The 34-goal win was Foster’s fourth over Yinnar this year.
The Tigers won all 15 of their home and away matches to take the minor premiership with a percentage of 235, then beat Yinnar twice more in the finals.
Goal attack Brylee Angwin was on the end of everything for Foster, shooting 40 of her side’s 63 goals, with goal shooter Ella Rendell adding the other 23.
At one point a Foster interception in the midcourt left her alone in the circle with an uncontested shot.
League figures had Rendell leading the A Grade goal scoring this season on 587, ahead of Tarwin’s Imogen Law on 565 and Yinnar’s Patty McInnes on 558.
Rendell shot the grand final 26 weeks pregnant, a fact her coach announced to the crowd during the presentation.
McInnes shot 19 for Yinnar, with Claire Thorburn adding nine and Anna Robertson one.
Best on court went to co-captain Madeline Stewart, who plays at goal defence, in a match Foster controlled at both ends.
Stewart and fellow co-captain Kelsey Angwin took both A Grade league best and fairest awards last season.
Foster playing coach Ebony Best had praise for the beaten Magpies.
“We had some great battles all year and the scoreline every game didn’t show how hard you pushed us,” Best said.
“Right from the start to the end we contested every ball, made it hard and continued playing. Credit to you girls, you have a great team and I know you’ll be back bigger and better next year.”
Best then addressed her own side, who went into the decider having beaten Yinnar three times already, including a 24-goal win in the second semi-final.
“To our girls, last year we were you guys,” she said.
“But we fixed things, we ticked every box to make sure that we were undefeated champions this year, and we did it in style.”
Best said the effort had been put in long before Saturday.
“I couldn’t be a prouder coach and teammate. The amount of effort they put in during the week on their fitness, on their skills, on their shooting, you can see it today and it’s second to none,” she said.
“One of the best teams I’ve played in.”
She also thanked the Foster supporters who had been at the ground since the first game of the morning.
“A big thank you to all our supporters for coming out from 8 o’clock this morning. We could hear you this year,” she said.
“Tonight this is yours as much as ours, so please make sure you enjoy it.”
Yinnar were playing their first A Grade grand final since winning the 2023 premiership, and reached it by beating Fish Creek 39-37 in the preliminary final.
Yinnar’s coach kept her remarks brief.
“Congratulations. Undefeated all year, absolute credit to you all. Well done, enjoy your celebrations,” she said.
“To my girls, great effort, hold your heads high. There are a lot of teams that don’t make the grand final and we got here. We’ll celebrate our season too.”
Mid Gippsland Football Netball League president John Schelling assisted with the presentation.
Gail McFarlane and Brigitte Case umpired.
It was a bleak afternoon for Yinnar, who lost four grand finals on the day, going down in the A Grade, D Grade, 17 and Under and 15 and Under.
FOSTER PREMIERSHIP SIDE: Ella Rendell, Brylee Angwin, Kelsey Angwin (capt), Madeline Stewart (capt), Hannah Weston, Hailey Boyd, Allira Howe, Tyla Angwin. Coach: Ebony Best.
