Nathalia’s all-conquering A-grade netball side has set the standard to beat en route to the Murray League grand final - with Tongala now looking to cause an upset in the showpiece.
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Led by high-profile coaches Tracey Brereton and Jacinta Todd, the Purples have experienced something of a procession towards the senior flag to set up the winner-takes-all contest on September 19.
When the two sides take to the field down at Moama Recreation Reserve, it will be the contingent from Nathalia that will enter the fray as favourites, having lost just once during the home-and-away campaign.
That ruthless domination of proceedings up until now was typified by the emphatic semi-final victory over Mulwala down at Rumbalara Recreation Reserve on September 5, as the Purps dispatched of the Lions in a 65-47 triumph.
That result confirmed Nathalia’s grand final berth, with Tongala having earned its respective place in the decider after beating Mulwala in the preliminary final, 72-65, a week later.
Undoubtedly, the Purps have been inspired to these lofty heights by the brilliance of Jane Cook, who has netted an astonishing 570 goals during the 2026 campaign to emerge as a club icon.
Her performances have been supplemented by the unsung ingenuity of Laura Cole, who has produced a host of eye-catching showings across the season, alongside mainstays including Kara Blizzard, Georgia Walpole and Emmalea Wishart.
Now, the Purps have to earn an A-grade premiership flag after coming agonisingly close 12 months ago.
That pressure is ramped up even more following a heartbreaking loss in the grand final last year at the hands of Rumbalara.
Speaking to the News ahead of what promises to be a compelling watch for the neutrals at the weekend, Purples star Cole expressed her excitement as she chases a first piece of silverware in club colours.
Nathalia's Laura Cole is hoping to hoist the premiership cup on Saturday.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
“It’s been a while since Nathalia has won an A-grade flag,” she said.
“We played in the grand final last year but couldn’t quite get the job done and so I think that’s just made us want things even more.
“In terms of preparation, it’s been a case of business as usual for us, obviously we’ve had a few weeks off during the finals but we’ve been training hard and trying to keep things as normal as possible.”
The Purples did the double over their next opponents during the league campaign, defeating the Blues in round one, before following this up with yet another victory in week 10.
Still, Cole is well-aware that Tongala will be desperate to spring a surprise in the grand final.
“We’re feeling fit and ready - bring it on we say,” she said.
“We haven’t played Tonny since June so it’s been a while and I know we have improved heaps since that last time, and I’m sure they have too.
“We’re not really sure what we’re going to come up against but we feel ready and really good with where we’re at - we’re keen for a good challenge.”
“We only had the one loss by a single goal but the key to our season has been taking it game by game, week by week and we’ve really come together well.
“We knew what our goal was at the start of the season and we all want to be wearing that medal on Saturday.”
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