Horsham Saints finished as premiers and champions with a clinical, professional display in the Wimmera league A Grade netball grand final on Saturday.

The Saints were a class above in the 80-43 win over Horsham Demons, strong from the outset as they dominated the first quarter to jump out to a 21-9 lead.

Both sides started the match with their usual starting seven – the Saints’ dominance resulted in them seeing out the game unchanged, while the Demons made several positional changes in a bid to seek an advantage.

But the Saints had winners all over the court.

It was a blistering first half by the undefeated side as they increased their lead to 41-16 at half-time.

Goalers Jorja Clode and Abby Hallam starred in attack, shooting goals from everywhere, earning the praises of the crowd, particularly Clode’s own cheersquad – the 13-and-under team she coaches – who came complete with custom-made t-shirts, signs, streamers and chants.

The two young Saints defenders – Lena Marshman and Maddi Bethune, who had just won a 17-and-under premiership in the game prior – stood up against the experienced Demons goalers. 

What they lacked in height, Marshman and Bethune made up for in netball smarts, with close checking and reading the play to effect.

Meanwhile, the Demons were scrambling – bringing on 17-and-under player Zarli Knight into goal attack, while running three different players through the centre in an effort to combat Saints star and 2025 Hatcher medallist Ash Grace.

But it was the Saints’ day, as they shot out to a 57-30 lead by three-quarter time.

Hallam, in goal attack, was in top form, showing her athleticism out in front, as well as sinking long bombs – ultimately earning her the best-on-court medal.

Clode shot a long-range goal to start the fourth quarter, going towards her 57 goals for the match, and the Saints had soon doubled the Demons’ score.

Horsham tried everything to match the Saints, with more positional changes, but to no avail – nothing was going to stop the determined Saints.

It was the total opposite to last year’s grand final, where the Demons held on in a close match.

A relieved but proud Saints coach Vernetta Taylor said it was a team-effort by all seven players.

“ I knew that we had the talent, I knew we had the game, the team to get to take it out, but we had to be able to bring it on the day, and you never know what is going to present,” she said. “We know that Horsham Demons are so experienced when it comes to finals and that it was not going to be an easy job, so we really had to be focused, switched on from the first whistle.

“I couldn’t be prouder of my girls because they went out there and really made sure that it wasn’t going to go any other way.”

Taylor was glowing in her praise for Marshman and Bethune in defence.

“They both did a beautiful job and it was that defensive pressure that enabled us to get the turnovers that our goals converted, so it was wonderful,” she said.

Taylor said a special part of the team was that all players had been developed through the Saints’ junior program.

She hoped to hold onto all players for next season, but with so much talent, there was no guarantee.

“We were only focused on this season, we wanted to just give it our full attention,” she said. 

“But yes, I would say that the conversations will start pretty quickly.”

The Saints were the dominant club in the netball grand finals on Saturday, winning C Grade, 17-and-under and 15-and-under.

The Demons won B Grade and 13- and-under, while Stawell won C Reserve.

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