CAMPERDOWN is a chance to end its grand final hoodoo after producing a comeback extra time preliminary final win over North Warrnambool Eagles.
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The Magpies erased a six-goal half-time deficit on their way to a thrilling 59-52 win at Reid Oval on Saturday.
The result propelled the Leura Oval club into its third straight Hampden league open netball decider, giving it another chance to lift the premiership cup for the first time in eight attempts.
Camperdown coach Peter Finch said he felt the game was slipping from the Magpies’ reach before they swung the momentum in the fourth term.
A Jaymie Finch goal tied the scores, sending the game into extra time.
“I said to them at three-quarter-time, ‘hang in, hang in’,” Finch said.
“When Brooke (Richardson) and Normie (Emma Wright) got handy turnovers in the last quarter, we got one or two goals and it put scoreboard pressure on, then they (the Eagles) started to panic.
“Jaymie shot 11 goals in the last quarter and ran Jordy (Billings) off her legs. She was a bit too quick and nimble.”
Finch said Camperdown took control in extra time, piling on 14 goals to seven.
“Our defenders shutdown Sophie Chow – she only shot two goals in extra time – and Annie (Blackburn) only had four or five,” he said.
“Jaymie kept throwing them in for us and Em (Finch) was strong with her rebounding.
“It was a really positive end to the game.”
Finch, who praised the Magpies for their “cool heads under pressure”, said Ashlea Spokes played an important role off the bench in wing attack.
“Leah Sinnott was crook throughout the week and I didn’t think she’d play at all but she was able to hang in there for a couple of quarters and it was a bonus,” he said.
“Ash only played a half but she’s so quick and ducks and weaves around – they lose her in traffic.”