Saturday may seem all about grand final glory at the Nita McGrath Courts but it's about more than that for the Narromine Hawks.
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The Hawks have surprised many, including themselves, by making this season's Rawson Homes Premiership A Grade grand final and on Saturday they'll do battle with a Fusion Heat side gunning for a third successive grand final.
They're not looking at the opposition though, they're focused on their own build-up and one players in particular.
Narromine netball stalwart Natalie Daymond will be retiring after Saturday so captain Trudy Althofer said the grand final is all about farewelling her.
"She's the token red head," Althofer joked.
"But she's been with the Hawks since the early 2000s and that Hawks has got a lot of history and she's going to retire as an A-Grader.
"She's very much the heart and soul of the club. No matter the age of other players she's always puts in and she gives 110 percent on and off the court.
"She's always really positive and I'm always glad she's on my team."
The excitement around making the grand final and the chance to farewell Daymond has been dampened somewhat by news centre Meg Morris is in doubt due to illness.
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Morris is unlikely to play and that comes as a huge blow to the underdogs given the role she's played in transitioning the ball quickly from the Hawks' strong defence to the attack.
Morris was one of a number of Hawks players to impress in last weekend's preliminary final win over Fusion Fire.
Despite the expected absence Althofer is confident other players will step up and fill the void, much like they have all season.
A number of new players linked with the Hawks this season and have all played a part in the success up to this point, with Althofer singling out Jenna Osbourne for praise having stepped up from D Grade last season.
Hawks' grand final date with minor premiers Heat is just one part of Narromine's big grand final day, with three other teams from the club to play in deciders.
"Narromine is an awesome club to be a part of and they're all very supportive," Althofer said.
Saturday's A Grade grand final starts at 3.45pm.
Nick Guthrie
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
