The Australian Netball Championships gold medal match has been locked in with reigning champions Victorian Fury taking on the Southern Force.
The Fury will be gunning for a remarkable ninth crown, while the Force haven’t tasted success in a decade – last winning the competition in 2012.
This year’s decider will be played from 2.15pm AEST in Traralgon on Sunday.
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The two teams have met previously this tournament, with the Fury taking a narrow one-goal win in the pool stages on Tuesday.
In that game, it was goal shooter Emma Ryde leading the way with 35 goals from 36 attempts.
And in Sunday’s grand final she will have a new Force opponent, following the heartbreaking news Molly Watson won’t take the court after suffering a serious knee injury on Thursday.
Watson was impressive against Ryde in their pool game, picking off a game-high four intercepts.
But Force defender Jessie Grenvold showed she can get the job done against a tall shooter, sending 201cm Collingwood attacker Jane Cook to the bench in their semi final on Saturday.
Grenvold collected an impressive five intercepts, despite the clear height disadvantage and helped her side to an 11-goal win to reach the decider.
The Fury won through to the grand final with a six-goal victory over the Queensland Sapphires, and now remain the only unbeaten side this tournament.
Emma Ryde dominated with 51 goals – a tournament-high return for any shooter.
But the Fury will have to tidy up their attack end if they are to record back-to-back titles, with wing attack Tayla Honey coughing up 14 general play turnovers in the semi final victory.
Force goal shooter Lucy Austin looms large as a key to the gold medal match, coming up against Fury defender, and Melbourne Vixen, Olivia Lewis.
While the two goal attacks could be pivotal in deciding the winner, with South Australian Lauren Frew a standout this series, and Victorian Ruby Barkmeyer showing why she belongs at Super Netball level.
The Fury and the Force have faced off in an Australian netball final previously, with the Vics taking the title in 2015.
In the other matches, Canberra Darters and Tasmania will face off for 9th v 10th, the West Coast Fever and Sunshine Coast Lightning play for 7th v 8th, the Swifts Academy and Giants Netball tussle for 5th and 6th before the bronze medal match between the Collingwood Magpies and Queensland Sapphires.
TEAM LISTS
Victorian Fury
Emily Andrew
Ruby Barkmeyer
Maggie Caris
Gabrielle Coffey
Jordan Cransberg
Tayla Honey
Tori Honner
Sharni Lambden
Olivia Lewis
Claudia Mawson
Hannah Mundy
Emma Ryde
Southern Force
Lucy Austin
Chelsea Blackman
Sophie Casey
Jacoba Clough
Georgia Dent
Lauren Frew
Poppy Gilfillan-Silk
Jessie Grenvold
Tyler Orr
Paris Sinclair
Jordan Vivian
*Molly Watson has not be named due to injury
