Australia breakout star Heidi Dennis has reflected on a dream Final victory after taking down New Zealand 28-26 in Perth.
The sea-sawing battle adds another chapter to a classic rivalry but it’s the circumstances in which the Aussies pulled it off that make it extra special.
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They were on the back foot instantly when Maddison Levi and Faith Nathan were ruled out of the finals due to a thumb injury and concussion respectively.
It meant the New Zealand quartet of Michaela Brake (née Blyde), Sarah Hirini, Theresa Setefano and Risi Pouri-Lane had more caps than the 11 fit Australians left to contest the Final.
Outside of Charlotte Caslick and Demi Hayes, the nine remaining players had a combined 66 appearances in the World Series, a large chunk of which happened in the opening two legs of Dubai and Cape Town.
But the young Australian side rallied to defy the odds and take down a red-hot New Zealand side, leaving captain Bella Nasser to soak in a famous victory.
“I couldn’t really script it much better,” said Nasser after the win.
“We haven’t won at home in a really long time, and for a lot of the girls, it was their first time playing at home. I couldn’t have scripted it any better.
“Obviously Maddi and Faith are a really crucial part of our team, but to see the young ones (like) Mackenzie Davis and Heidi Dennis step up tonight like they did was unbelievable."
The shining light in the win was Player of the Final Dennis, filling the large shoes of Levi and Nathan with a sensational double.
The former soccer prodigy was electric on the wing to score the first before showing great hands to reel in a looping Teagan Levi pass to score what would be the winner.
It caps a rollercoaster 12 months that saw Dennis debut in Perth before a series of last-minute injuries derailed her season.
“Just grit, all the way to the end,” Dennis said on how they pulled the win off.
“They really made us fight for that and doing it at home made it special.
“It means everything coming off back-to-back injuries. It’s good just to get a straight run and get the win.
“We just wanted to back ourselves. We’ve done the training and know what we needed to do, to go out and do it was great.”
“Heidi really deserves player of the Final, it was incredible,” Nasser added
