Cheering characters

By Jarrod Potter
THE action might have been on the court, but the characters surrounding them made for just as rich a tale.
Signs, banners, flags, raucous cheering and everything in between were on display as the MPNFL netball spectators put colour and vibrancy into the atmosphere of the grand finals at Edwin Flack Reserve.
They call her Miss Maddocks, but for Beaconsfield A grade midcourter Jasmine Maddocks, the support of her St Margarets’ students, Luke and Charlie, would’ve boosted spirits in the A grade battle against Keysborough.
The lads stood firm with their banner, which kept trying to disintegrate, fluttering in the strong breeze.
Beaconsfield seized the initiative to take a 51-35 win, which may have been due to two lads and their sign of approval.
Cheering on their sole representative for the day, the ROC supporters donned the blue and white with gusto and roared every time B Grade goalers Sara Villiers and Natali Van Deelen sunk a basket.
ROC was able to run away with a well deserved victory, the Kangaroos defeating the Eagles, 69-50.
With a likely mix of jubilation and disappointment, Beaconsfield C Grade coach and B Grade player Kylie Clark took in both ends of the emotional spectrum as her C Grade girls won a hard fought battle 24-23 against Berwick.
Then she donned the uniform to see her playing in a team which fought out a high-scoring loss to ROC.
The Chloe Moss cheer squad, supporting their favourite Berwick C Grade netballer (their dedication winning Chloe this week’s Pakenham Racing Club Paddock Personality on Gazette Page 8) consisted of five mates, who put the C, H, L, O and E into netball fashion.
Annie Moss (C), Mat Grandsable (H), Jasmine Jaber (L), Michael Mercier (O) and Beau Comelli (E) dominated the landscape at the back of the courts, with their letters and stars leaving a big imprint on the spectators.
They weren’t able to get the win for Berwick, but their strong visual impact would’ve signalled intent to the cross-creek opponents.
In the lower grades, the under-17s for Narre Warren lofted the cup with a 29-24 victory over Beaconsfield, with the reverse happening for the under-15s, the Eagles beating the Magpies 31-21.
The title for the smallest of Casey Cardinia’s netballers was decided by four goals, as Cranbourne took the prize over Narre Warren, 28-24.