The Collingwood Magpies received a standing ovation after pulling off a three-point upset win over the Adelaide Thunderbirds in their final home game at John Cain Arena.
Inaugural player Ash Brazill was in tears after the game and said there were so many different emotions after the club announced it would withdraw from Super Netball at the conclusion of this season.
Ash Brazill looks to the crowd after the emotional game in Melbourne.Credit: Getty Images
“Getting told that Collingwood won’t have a team has just been heartbreaking not just for players, but staff as well, and to be honest it’s probably kind of united us all because we’re in the same position,” said Brazill.
“But everyone’s dealing with it in their own different ways. For me as captain, it’s probably been the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do.
“Driving into this game, I cried out pretty much the whole way in. And I said to my wife, ‘I just feel empty … we’ve got three more games, and we’re not going to make finals? Like, what is this?’ And then to go out, and everyone performed, not just on the court, but off the court, you know, our staff, everyone being surrounded by each other, to win a game like that against a team that’s in the top four.
“It’s disappointing that it didn’t happen earlier, but to be able to get a win like that, I feel like this gives us that morale. And this is a reason and there is a purpose … so, I’m hoping that lifts the girls up a bit.”
Players celebrate with coach Nicole Richardson.Credit: Getty Images
Magpies coach Nicole Richardson shared similar thoughts. She said the past months had been emotionally, physically and mentally draining for the players.
“We got a message of support from a fan that basically said, ‘Thank you for inspiring my two children, and for allowing them to be the best versions of themselves,’ and I used that in the change rooms,” said Richardson. “I spoke to our group about being the best version of themselves and the best version of us. And I think you saw that out on court today.”
Collingwood had the hard task of going up against ladder-leaders, while they entered the game on the bottom rung after only two wins this season.
But the Magpies rose to the occasion. They’re a side known for starting strong and fading late but were fierce until the end, leading at every change and increasing the pace and pressure in the second half.
It was a solid team effort. Brazill was fantastic in wing defence, while Shimona Nelson was formidable in attack, owning the goal arc. Geva Mentor and Jodi-Ann Ward were commanding in defence.
Adelaide battled errors and failed to match Collingwood’s speed until the final quarter where they got within two goals. But the Magpies held on.
There were plenty of “Thank you Pies” signs on show, and one which read “Supporters in the first game till the last … side by side”, among the animated crowd dressed in black and white.
Collingwood AFLW head coach Steve Symonds and the AFLW and VFLW players gave their football teammate Ash Brazill a guard of honour send-off after she announced her retirement from netball at the end of the season.
Ash Brazill embraces teammate Kelsey Browne after the game.Credit: Getty Images
Club member Amy Stephens, 28, said it was a sad day, not just for Collingwood but for women’s sport in general.
“Netball is the biggest women’s sport and we have a club that was making a profit who doesn’t want to invest in it. I think that shows everything that the Collingwood Football Club values,” Stephens said.
She added: “You can see what it means on Ash Brazill’s face. The team has been through the worst of it the last few weeks and they showed so much heart to get the win. I’m so proud of them.
“I think today shows what could have been – if leadership ever had the desire to make it happen – that’s how I’d sum it up.”
The Magpies have just two games remaining in their season, including a Melbourne derby next weekend against Melbourne Vixens at John Cain Arena and their last home game in Tasmania against reigning champions West Coast Fever.
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