HER roots are firmly set in the idyllic, country community and for Jocelyn Fitzgerald, the chance to lift the premiership cup with Camperdown would be the result of a lifetime’s work.
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The 34-year-old’s extensive career in black and white is yet to yield a grand final win. However, Fitzgerald will once again have the chance to snare a maiden title when her division two Magpies outfit takes on Port Fairy on Saturday.
This time, however, it will be as coach.
“I’ve been involved with the club for a long time and I can never remember this many netballers playing finals (at Camperdown),” she said of the club’s three senior grand final teams.
“We’ve all had the week off and being at training last week was a bit surreal. You give up your weekends for this because you enjoy playing with the people at the club.”
Fitzgerald hailed the support of fellow Magpies Jess Moulden and Bec Van Den Eynde, who she says played a “huge” role in supporting her in the coaching position off the court.
Further west in Koroit, Kate Dobson knows what it takes to taste premiership success.
Most recently, Dobson starred in the Saints’ 2014 open grade triumph. Now her test will be to add another trophy to the mantelpiece at Victoria Park as a coach of Koroit’s division one charges.
Dobson was wary at the prospect of playing Hamilton Kangaroos, which has steamrolled North Warrnambool Eagles, Port Fairy and Cobden in straight sets to reach to the division’s grand final.
“They have the momentum and we’re aware of that. It’s a bit scary in a lot of ways. But we have confidence because we know we can bring our style to the game,” she said.
In the division three netball, Camperdown will face off against Koroit.
Hamilton Kangaroos will have two chances to bring home a premiership cup, with their under 17 charges set to contest the grand final against North Warrnambool Eagles.
Camperdown’s fourth side – the 15 and under – will also battle it out against North Warrnambool Eagles.
South Warrnambool clashes with Koroit in the 13 and under division.