By Bodhi Stringer
Another year and another Australian Men’s and Mixed Netball (AMMNA) Championships has been completed. The Annual tournament held over easter and the following week descended on Brisbane’s Nissan Arena in 2024. A total of 7 divisions and 43 teams entered the 2024 tournament all trying to stake their claim and capture the ultimate success of becoming National Champions. This year’s instalment of the AMMNA Championships featured divisions ranging from Under 17 Boys to Open Men’s and Mixed. Now that the tournament has been completed and the champions have been crowned let’s look at who was victorious in each division.
Divisions And Winners:
Under 17s – Victoria (62) def South Australia (61)
Under 20s – Western Australia (56) def Victoria (51)
Under 23s – Victoria (55) def South Australia (46)
Reserve Men – Victoria (54) def New South Wales (34)
Reserve Mixed – Queensland (48) def Tasmania (38)
Open Men – Victoria (44) def New South Wales (37)
Open Mixed – New South Wales (59) def Victoria (38)
Victoria have come out the 2024 AMMNA championships as big winners as they board the flight home having won four of the possible seven national titles up for grabs and again leave the tournament as the most successful state. From continued domination in the 17 & Under Boy’s division to a drought breaking breakthrough for the Victorian Open Men’s side it was a true domination for the Big V in 2024.
Key Stories of the 2024 AMMNA Championships:
Victorian 17 & Under Boys Continued Domination:
Winners: Victoria (62) def South Australia (61)
Victoria have again come out on top in the 17 & Under division at the AMMNA championships. Having won every National title since the 2017 Gold Coast tournament Victoria has once again claimed its stake as the dominant force of the underage division.
However, this year’s tournament was hotly contested with the top four sides separated by 3 points going into the finals. South Australia who showcased grit and determination to put last year’s 45-goal Grand Final smashing behind them, finished on top of the group after the round robin stage having amassed a record of 5 wins and 1 draw. Victoria opened the tournament with a rocky start having a record of 1 win, 1 loss and a draw after the first 3 games but would eventually recover to not drop another game for the rest of the tournament.
Having locked in their places in the Semi Finals, South Australia and Victoria could sit back and watch as the other four teams played off in the first stage of finals to determine the final matchups. It would eventuate into New South Wales and Queensland progressing to the Semi Finals. Both Victoria and South Australia flexed their muscles in the Semis winning by 10 and 12 goals respectively to set up a 2023 Grand Final rematch. As previously mentioned last year’s grand final was a heavily one-sided affair with Victoria coming away 45 goal winners but this year was bound to be a hotly contested grand final and it did not disappoint.
Eventually after all the games and all the stories around the grand final rematch Victoria would come out the stronger team by the thinnest of margins as they edged out South Australia by a solitary goal in a thrilling contest.
Victorian Open Men finally breakthrough:
Winners: Victoria (44) def New South Wales (37)
Victoria have long been viewed as the dominant force in Men’s and Mixed netball but funnily enough their ability to win the premier national title (the open men’s title) has evaded the state for several years. At the 2023 National Championships the Open Men’s side fell agonisingly close to ending the drought as they went down in the Grand Final to Western Australia by 6 goals. However, Victoria as they always do regroup and came back looking to right the wrongs of the previous years and capture that illusive title in 2024.
The 2024 campaign couldn’t have been better for the Victorians as they were able to win all their group games and advance to the finals in first place. Due to this a position in the Semi Finals was locked in for the Vics and they would face a consistent rival in New South Wales in the first semi final for the open men’s division. Having played each other in the 2023 preliminary final both teams had something to prove but it was Victoria that would come out on top and win the Semi by 9 goals and book their place in the final match of the tournament.
Victoria may have thought they had seen the back of the New South Wales team in their semi-final win, but the two teams would again face off in the Grand Final after New South Wales were able to pick themselves up and get past the reigning champions, Western Australia in the Major semi-final by 9 goals. A second finals matchup was scheduled for Victoria and New South Wales but this time it was ultimate glory up for grabs.
Ultimately Victoria would prove to strong and would come out 7 goals the better in the Grand Final to finally right the wrongs of the previous years and winning their first AMMNA Championship post the COVID interruptions. Victoria wouldn’t only win the National title but would remain undefeated throughout the tournament, showcasing that they were finally able to put their potential together and capture the gold.
For many the AMMNA Championships would be unheard of but for those of us who have had the privilege of playing or attending the tournament it is a true spectacle of raw athleticism combined with tactical genius. For Victoria to walk away with four of the seven national titles and for that to include an Open Men’s crown is nothing short of extraordinary. Having spent time in the VMMNA system and seen the work that goes into wining a title, it is a true credit to everyone at VMMNA to put together such an impressive and dominant performance across all divisions and proves that Victoria remains as the powerhouse of Men’s and Mixed netball for another year.
Comentários