The Garden captain was surrounded by well wishers after the hot favourites maintained their unbeaten record for the season and convincingly won 40-17 in front of an enthusiastic audience on Saturday.

While the second-year premiers were delighted to call on long-time A Graders Karin and Tracey Morgan, Kym and Penny Sawtell and Donna Thomas, it was the team’s young guns who really gave the team fire power all over the court.

That was evident throughout the season and in the grand final when the heat and grand final nerves impacted on all players.

“One of the really good things about this year was that we had five new players and they injected a lot of new energy, especially into the centre court, which was great,” Morgan said.

“Jessie Stewart has come over from Gilgandra each week to play and Courtney Lane has travelled even further from out Nyngan way. Their input has been good for all of us and you can’t deny them the enthusiasm for the game they’ve needed to travel to get to play netball.

“We also had Bec Clinghan, Khyarne Biles and Zenetra Astill play for Garden for their first time, and again everyone of them has played a vital role in our team’s success.

“For some of us who have been around a while, it’s been good to have new people to play with.”

After leading 9-3, 16-8 and 26-15 going into the last quarter, Garden’s experience showed in the final period of play with their passes more deliberate, the goal shooting better and their defence limiting the chances of Upside to get back into the game.

While having a bigger advantage with rotation through their reserves, Garden was lifted by having Tracey Morgan and Jacinda Spicer on the court at vital times, although both have been hampered by injuries in recent weeks.

“There was a fitness cloud over Tracey and Jacinda who have both had ankle injuries of late, but both made themselves available today and their presence lifted the rest of us,” Karin Morgan said.

“Having 12 registered players has been good for us and certainly made a difference in the heat today.

“Tracey’s experience has been good for the team and it’s lucky that she could get rid of her injuries during the finals, while Jacinda still wasn’t 100 per cent she still played a significant role in the win.

“These types of injuries can play on your confidence, you’re not all that free in your movements and you are probably not willing to push yourself as you would if fully fit.

“Upside also suffered with an injury in the final quarter to Marissa Parker when she fell heavily and took no further part in the game which was a shame for her team and also for her.”

Another feature for Garden in the grand final was their defence, they managed to keep Upside down to just two goals in the final quarter.

Morgan said her team had a wealth of experience in this part of their game and it showed in the match that mattered.