GRAND final opponents one year, grand final teammates the next.
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Hawks’ netballers Kiara Dannatt and Georgia Ryan will join forces in the Hampden league 14 and under grand final on Sunday.
It will come 12 months after they met in the Warrnambool and District league 13 and under grand final.
That day Dannatt’s Russells Creek proved too good for Ryan’s Old Collegians.
The pair played together at Hawks in 2017 too. They play Warrnambool and District competition on Saturdays and back up in the Hampden juniors on Sundays.
Ryan, 13, said she was excited to play alongside Dannatt, 14, in a grand final.
“This year will be a lot better because either way we’ll be together if we lose or win,” she said.
Hawks finished the 14 and under season in second spot.
They knocked off Koroit by 10 goals in the qualifying final and eked out a one-goal victory over South Warrnambool in the second semi-final to earn a week off and direct passage to the grand final.
They’ll meet the Roosters, who scored a one-goal preliminary final win over Camperdown, in the decider.
Dannatt said Hawks were backing themselves in.
“We just get along so well and Ellie Ryan, she’s a jet, we wouldn’t be here without her,” she said.
“Everyone puts in effort.”
Ryan said team work was the Hawks’ main strength.
“If everyone puts in 100 per cent like they always do, I reckon that’s why we’re here,” Ryan said.
“We had Tahlee (Dannatt) and we thought she’d be our main goal defence but she’s the shorter one and Ellie (Ryan) has come in and played mostly goal defence for us so it’s been really good to have her in the team.”
Hawks are also represented in the 16 and under grand final.
They bounced back from a qualifying final defeat and will play that same opponent, South Warrnambool, in the decider.
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