WA Netball League: West Coast Warriors crowned state champions

For the first time in club history, the Warriors achieved the rare feat of featuring in each of the 18s, reserves and league grand finals on Sunday.

Unfortunately, a triple championship was not to be for West Coast, with the league contingent victorious at the peak level of WA netball, but the 18s and reserves losing their matches.

The league side, which last won a premiership in 2012, led at every change but was tested by the South East Demons in a thrilling 52-48 triumph at Curtin Stadium.

Coach Karly Guadagnin labelled the win “a feather in the cap” after “so much work”.

“Our message is that when we’re challenged we have to step up, and we knew today was going to be tough and going to be a challenge,” she told Netball WA.

“We stepped up and delivered the result which is fantastic.”

Warriors defender and former West Coast Fever player Andrea Gilmore was crowned the game MVP.

Winning state netball’s most cherished prize ended a dominant year for the Warriors, who lost just two games to finish second to South East, which defeated them in round 10.

But West Coast proved the better side when it mattered, beating the Demons in the semi finals before its grand final success.

West Coast president Trish Robinson said the club was “extremely proud” of all three teams making it to their respective deciders.

In the reserves clash, the Coastal Sharks won a fifth-straight championship with a 50-39 win over the Warriors.

Despite the Sharks finishing well clear on top of the ladder, West Coast would have been confident in causing an upset having beaten Coastal in the semi final and inflicting the side’s only loss of the regular season.

Earlier in the day, the West Coast 18s trailed by just a goal against Souwest Jets at quarter time but could not maintain the pressure in a 59-39 loss.

The Jets ended the season in third, one spot below West Coast, but had an undefeated finals run to claim their first 18s title in eight years.