Sport
29 September, 2022
How Natte became champions
AS the heavens opened over Princes Park last Saturday, so too did an outpour of relief, disbelief everything in-between from a sea of red-and-white.
AS the heavens opened over Princes Park last Saturday, so too did an outpour of relief, disbelief everything in-between from a sea of red-and-white.
The sound of the final siren on Grand Final day acted as the perfect swansong for Natte Bealiba’s players at the end of a season unlike any other.
A season which, not only saw them lift the A-Grade premiership for the first time in 11 years, but the B-Grade flag too.
And this is how they did it.
The squad approach
Every masterpiece has an architect and Susan Borserio was Natte’s.
Her first call of action proved to be the most pivotal in the club’s success this season, even if it consisted of diving into the unknown for herself and the players, despite 25 years’ experience as a coach.
“We went with a different approach to other clubs, we went with an A-and-B squad which meant you had to perform or else you got dropped,” Borserio said.
“The players have trusted me, and I’ve trusted them throughout the season.
“This year has been a really different year as a coach. There have been things I’ve done for the last 25 years sort of went out the window, I really changed things up and going with that squad was the first thing I did that was different.”
This approach would serve as the remedy to a series of potentially season derailing obstacles which flew Natte’s way throughout the season.
Even on Grand Final day was Natte’s depth called upon.
This was none more so evident through defender Sharelle Martin one of the side’s great unsung heroes who, minutes after winning the B-Grade premiership, was forced to shift her focus towards the A-Grade Grand Final where she was tasked with nullifying the league’s best Goal-Shooter in Rachel Phelan, due to a shortage of A-Grade defenders.
The Injuries
All great tales are regarded as such because of the hardship overcome.
In addition to the pandemic and illness related absences experienced across the league, the Swans suffered a double blow on the eve of finals capable of sending any side’s premiership hopes down the train.
Within 30 seconds of each other, in-form Goal-Defence Caitlin Lanfranchi and Ash MccLelland went down with respective ACL and Achilles injuries which would rule the pair out for the season.
It was this which prompted Martin’s call-up to the A-Grade side in defence, as well as a significant shifts in other areas of the court, with defender Anna Mortlock moving to Wing-Attack and forward Shannae Mills moving into the mid-court.
All on the eve of finals.
The loss they needed to have
Heading into any final with the injury pile-up Natte had is never ideal.
Particularly, when its against an in-form Carisbrook.
But despite suffering defeat in this Qualifying Final, this loss morphed into the ultimate blessing for a Natte side which approached its next three matches with a new, premiership-winning, plan in place.
“We didn’t find our team that would go on to win [the Grand Final] after we lost to Carisbrook,” Borserio said.
“That result was probably the best thing happened to us because we were forced to look at why we lost and what we need to focus on.”
The perfect swansong
It may not have been how they imagined it would or could turn out, but the Swans, with players having just finished playing a B-Grade Grand Final and others out of position, completed their odyssey with a 15-goal win over Lexton.
In a near-complete performance, Natte Bealiba took control of the match late in the first term and never looked back.
At either end, Nalder Tracey trophy winner Naomi Medlyn and Mel Oliver put together a defensive and attacking performances respectively, capable of winning the best-on-court medal, only to be outdone by a fierce Ella Tranter in the midcourt.
The squad mantra driven by Borserio came full circle in the final five minutes when she replaced Medlyn, who was forced off with an ankle injury, as well as several others with a cohort of B-Grade players.
Adding to this premiership painted in red-and-white is Borserio who, as well as celebrating the occasion as a coach, was able to do enjoy the occasion as a mother.
“This one means a lot to me because my daughter [Samantha] played in the team too. She will attest to this that I am the worst mother in the world because I’ve sat her on so many benches and I’m so proud that I was able to watch today as a coach and a mum,” she said.
“I feel really good that I was able to get her on. She’s had a really tough year and did enough to qualify and this will probably be the last time we play and coach together so I’m really happy to be able to get her on.”