Grand final day is the biggest on anyone's sporting calendar but Monique Dufty's featured an unusual quirk.
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Both her Launceston NTFAW side and the Cavaliers in the Tasmanian Netball League were playing for a premiership on the same day.
However, the 18-year-old was comfortable with the logistical challenge of competing in both fixtures.
"None of my family lives here, I don't have any family here so I think I've relied on team sports and relied on the families within the sport to be my family," she said.
"I've made some great friends and relationships, that's what I love about team sports, the relationships you make."
At Windsor Park, Dufty's day started in style as Launceston were never troubled as they secured the NTFAW premiership with a terrific performance, winning 4.5 (29) to 0.5 (5).
As the premiership celebrations went on around her, Dufty had to rush away to make her grand final appointment with the Cavaliers.
"It's pretty full on, your body gets used to it after a while, it was often on the same day so I'm used to football in the morning and netball in the afternoon," she said.
"I think if I just did all the right things recovery-wise and preparing for it then my body pulled up all right."
After Hawks shooter Ashlea Mawer dominated in the first quarter, Dufty was called upon to strengthen the Cavs' defence.
"We often talk about what we need to do before the game and in my mind I just had to shut Ash down which is hard," she said.
"I think we knew we didn't have the start we wanted but we also knew we had belief in the group, we knew that we could do it and we knew we could come back," she said.
In the end, the Cavs capped their remarkable comeback with a 62-57 victory. It also meant that Dufty's unlikely double-act was sealed with yet another medallion.
"It was just relief I think we knew we'd done all the work and it was so good to finally hear the siren and get the win," she said.
"It was one of the best days that I've ever been a part of and I don't reckon I'll ever be able to say that I've won two grand finals for two different sports in three hours."
Adam Daunt
Sports reporter at The Examiner. Focus on basketball and netball but occasionally rolls the arm over for some cricket coverage in the summer. Previously from Adelaide with a stint in Byron Bay. Get in touch: adam.daunt@examiner.com.au.
Sports reporter at The Examiner. Focus on basketball and netball but occasionally rolls the arm over for some cricket coverage in the summer. Previously from Adelaide with a stint in Byron Bay. Get in touch: adam.daunt@examiner.com.au.
