Monday, 8 November 2024 saw a top of the table clash between reigning premiers South Adelaide and Garville, a team of young high-flying state and Australian representatives.
Immediately from the first whistle it was evident that the team that consistently mastered the high feed to their gun goalers, Matt Fowler for South Adelaide and Ben Clarke for Garville would prevail.
Defensive pressure featured early in the first quarter as both teams forced errors. The creative combination of silky-smooth Saxon Hay at centre and Aalen Davis at wing attack made use of attacking space and passing with speed to open up the circle for the strong moves of Ben Clarke.
Ryan Norfolk at goal attack for South Adelaide was a key focus in their attack, who was set up by Travis Wood at wing defence who created strong driving moves in transition to attack.
Goal for goal saw both teams jostling for supremacy and Garville’s goaling maestro Ben Clarke starting to find space and shooting range while providing young gun Kruz Wilson with scoring opportunities. Garville’s goal circle was well served by the impact of Saxon Hay’s attacking moves in transition and around the goal circle; well supported by Davis.
Despite Daniel Moore having a defensive impact with tight front on body defence, Garville fired in the final few minutes to end the first quarter ahead by three goals.
First Quarter scores were; Garville 14 and South Adelaide 11.
The second quarter began with South Adelaide's Geoff Zammit taking the court for Kyle Glazbrook. Garville’s defensive pressure across all thirds saw South Adelaide struggling to get the ball into attack, forcing errors and often attacking players leading to the same spot. Meanwhile, Garville’s defensive pressure reduced options.
Hay’s playmaking at centre provided streamlined transition from defence to attack, combining with Davis to set up Ben Clarke and Kruz Wilson whose accuracy and use of space in the goal circle set up an onslaught of scoring. Garville broke away to a seven-goal lead within five minutes.
By contrast, the Garville circle defenders Ben Ryan and Corey Haskard were working overtime to nullify South Adelaide's high feed to Matt Fowler. Increasingly the aerial impact, particularly by Ben Ryan, saw him grow in confidence, challenging the high feed and exposing Fowlers inability to create space. Coach Scott Fort pulled changes; Mark Goreham from WA to bench, Travis Wood to C, Reece Turtur to WA, all in an attempt to reinvigorate their attack.
However, Ben Clarke’s timing and use of space saw him become a scoring machine. Hay’s impact picked up several notches as he found space with ease and put the foot on the accelerator resulting in many unanswered goals for Garville.
Half time scores were Garville 36 (22) to South Adelaide 18 (7).
A number of changes by both sides as the third quarter commenced where Garville left off; strong full court pressure, negating the passing options to Fowler, and Hay dynamic in attack.
Young Reid O’Callaghan who came onto GA for South Adelaide injected some positive movement and scoring opportunities for South Adelaide in attack. The team rallied a challenge and began to make use of space and scoring opportunities. In fact, they went on to win the quarter by four goals.
Third quarter scores were Garville 51 (15) to South Adelaide 37 (19).
South Adelaide commenced the final quarter with young O’Callaghan creating options to bring Fowler back into the game and it went goal for goal for a while. However, Ben Ryan in defence for Garville began to really fire. His reading of the pass, aerial supremacy in restricting the high feed, and his impeccable timing of his defensive jump to reject the shot was decisive. His efforts most ably supported by Corey Haskard.
Aiding Garville's defense was the soft slow passing by South Adelaide, giving both defenders too much of an opportunity to read and challenge. Garville began to run away from South Adelaide as the quarter progressed. Clarke and Davis in goals for Garville were finding space with ease and shooting accurately. Final scores were Garville 68 (17) to South Adelaide 50 (13).
My guests weren’t wearing netball bibs tonight but one of them certainly did not so long ago. It is often said that elite athletes are usually well supported by their parents or caregivers, it doesn’t happen by chance. However rarely do we hear the stories behind emerging young elite athletes. This is certainly the case for All Australian and Garville young gun Saxon Hay. His parents Robyn and Scott Hay have been courtside for over 10 years since Saxon was asked to play netball at the Aldinga Netball Club as a 10-year-old.
Once Saxon was too old for the mixed competition, a local umpire told them about the Southern Dragons and they encouraged Saxon to trial for the Under 17’s. Needless to say that he was selected in that team and was coached by the experienced and most knowledgeable Caleb Barnden.
The Hay parents spend much time supporting Saxon each week and his younger sisters on their netball journeys which clearly gives them much joy! From the 17’s to the 23’s after the Covid interruptions, Saxon is now an open men's representative. All through his development mum and dad have been there, cheering him on and providing an abundance of support, clicking up inestimable kilometres and driving hours. Saxon’s successes are growing at both national and international level. Saxon was selected in the Australian U23’s that played in the Singapore International last year where he won MVP in the winning final against New Zealand. Mum Robyn and nana were there to support and cheer him on.
More recently Saxon represented Australia in the 23’s in a 3-test series against New Zealand in Canberra, where once again he shone! I asked where perhaps Saxon inherited this talent and mum Robyn was quick to point out that it was most likely from her as she shyly added she had played representative netball for Tasmania in her youth. What is very apparent is the strong bond that ties this family to the game. Clearly mum and dad are super proud of what Saxon has already achieved and skies the limit for his future success at All Australian representation. Underpinning this is the unwavering support by mum and dad, and I believe they deserve the utmost congratulations as examples of an excellent sporting parent.
Congratulations Robyn and Scott.
