AS YOU drive out to Georgia Haberfield's Mepunga-based farm you see blue balloons tied to fence posts.
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Driving up the long driveway, there are Friesian calves weaving between the the trees on either side of the road.
There are more animals to come.
As you drive around the horseshoe track by the house you pass the cows and there sits a big dog kennel.
A long-legged shaggy dog bolts out to greet any visitors - it's Spook, the family's Deerhound cross.
When reaching for a pat visitors suddenly realise there's nothing spooky about him.
He's just part of the family with more dogs, chickens, ducks and thousands of midges also floating about.
This scenic environment is where Haberfield's netball origins started.
Now she is about to play in her team's A grade Warrnambool and District league grand final.
Nirranda, which finished on top of the ladder, will play Merrivale in the decider at Reid Oval on Saturday.
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Haberfield, whose family farm is not far from Nirranda, knows how much buzz grand finals create in her community.
She said there was plenty of excitement leading up to Blues' 2018 netball and football triumphs.
"I reckon last year for the grand final teas, it was packed," she said. "There would have been more than 150 people there.
"It's amazing because you don't think that you have that many people around you. For a small town, it's unreal."
Having attended numerous Nirranda football and netball matches throughout the season, it's clear Haberfield loves being part of her community as well.
She can be heard at her team's huddle saying "Blues on three!" before her team responds "one, two, three, Blues!" and they jump back on court.
And she's always there when the Blues' football team sings its song in the change rooms after a win.
But the midcourter also knows of Nirranda's tougher times.
She first took to the court for the Blues in 2008.
Haberfield played 15 reserve (the equivalent of 13 and under) for two years before a year in 15 and under.
"The tough times would have been being bottom of the ladder for many years and struggling to find players and get the junior sides all together," she said of those three years.
"It was always a struggle for numbers when I was younger."
She progressed to 17 and under and played her first A grade match in the same season.
The Blues struggled when she started in the top grade but have since made the past three grand finals and the preliminary final in 2016.
The 22-year-old is now enjoying her seventh season in the club's A grade side.
She said last year's success was something she cherished.
"Something that's so rewarding like that, it's not easily forgotten," she said.
"It's definitely up there with one of the best times, I reckon."
The midcourter said she had also taken some lessons from last year's experience.
"I'm definitely a lot calmer," she said. "I think I'm more calm because I know what to expect.
"Winning is such a good feeling that you want to do that again so you just stay calm and collected."
She said she had a different mindset heading into the 2018 decider.
"Last year, I reckon for the whole week I was like 'oh my God, I'm in the grand final, oh my God, oh my God," she said.
Haberfield said her side had a huge task ahead.
"Merrivale are a very good side," she said. "I think they'll definitely come out guns blazing. Credit to them, Carly (Peake) has done an amazing job with them."
Haberfield believes her Blues have yet to peak and are after a strong four-quarter performance.
"I think our best netball is still yet to come and I think we've saved that for this weekend," she said.
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