IT HAS been a mammoth wait for Learmonth to lift the Central Highlands Netball League A-grade premiership cup, but the current group of girls have the club as close as it has ever been to replicating that 1994 triumph.
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The Lakies are back in a grand final for the first time since that victory, with coach Jordan O’Keefe also going in search of an elusive flag in his first year at the club.
And despite a slip-up in the qualifying final a few weeks ago, the team has proven itself to be the yardstick.
Learmonth and grand final opponents Springbank have met just once this year, with the Lakies coming out on top by 25 goals.
“It’s really important for the past players and coaches of that side from 21 years ago,” Learmonth coach Jordan O’Keefe told The Courier.
O’Keefe said apart from former Tigers Shenae Cunningham and Laura Allan – who won a premiership with Springbank – none of his side had played in a CHNL A-grade grand final.
While Learmonth in hunting a breakthrough success, the Tigers are in the midst of a golden period, which has included flags in 2012 and 2013.
Joint-coach of Springbank Cynna Kydd said Learmonth is the team to beat.
“I’m actually really enjoying being the underdogs this season. They have had the team to beat since the start of the year,” Kydd, who coaches with her husband Garth, said.
“We have got our work cut out for us on Saturday, but we like the challenge.”
Kydd is chasing her first on-court premiership with the Tigers after leading from the sidelines when the team won during her first year at the club in 2013.
