Emotions overwhelmed Echuca 15-and-under coach Gina Pearson as her side secured the Goulburn Valley League netball premiership.
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But the coach’s tears were about more than just seeing the team get over the line.
“I think they were able to just do as we asked, like they couldn't have done any more,” Pearson said.
Coaching is hard.
So when it all comes together the way it did against Moorooopna, it’s incredibly validating.
For Pearson, it also went beyond just seeing a group of young girls working together so well on the court.
“Our aim is to make sure we're developing our players not just as netballers, but as people,” she said.
“So the way they perform on the court is all about the type of people we want them to be and the way they treat their opposition, umpires, everyone.
“We hope that we role model that and we see that on the court.
“The discipline that they show out on the court is just so important.”
Echuca certainly required a level of discipline to get over the line.
Mooroopna was a side that had beaten the Murray Bombers once prior this year.
At half-time, it was anyone’s game as Echuca led 20-18.
Like any grand final, there comes a turning point somewhere along the way.
For Pearson’s team, it came in the third quarter.
Goaler Sarah Head’s height was a big factor as she finished a handful of one-legged attempts.
Midcourters Sadie Jones and Milla Ryan upped the defensive pressure.
Echuca suddenly pushed its advantage out to eight by three-quarter time, with onlookers noting its physical advantages across the court being too much to handle.
Pearson also made some key alterations.
“Milla is super quick and we played her quite a bit in wing defence because of her speed,” she said.
“But we just needed to change up that area and we put her into wing attack and that really did open it up.
“Lucy (Ridge) and Sarah swapped positions and that worked better.
“Often it's changes that you make that you wouldn't normally make that you go, ‘Oh well, we were able to do that’, because of the versatility of the players that we've got.”
Once it had a comfortable cushion, Echuca didn’t look back.
Mooroopna got it back to 40-35 at one stage, with a good battle between Cats goaler Ava Braybon and Echuca goal keeper Luella William taking over the fourth.
But the Murray Bombers’ composure saw them home.
Particularly, the composure of Head in the goal circle, who calmly kept her ... head down the stretch, converting a few longer range shots as Echuca won 47-37.
Given her role in the game-changing third, wing defence Jones took out best-on-court honours.