Merrivale sisters Cloe Pulling and Carly Peake to team up in 2019 WDFNL grand final

Cloe Pulling, 23, will play for her older sister and coach Carly Peake, 24, when the Tigers tackle Nirranda at Reid Oval.

Pulling said playing under Peake had been smoother than expected with sibling rivalry put aside.

"At Koroit we were in the same A grade team but I was always a benchie, so we never really played a lot of netball together," she said.

"I was a bit nervous having her as a coach thinking 'is she going to be a bit harder on me than everyone else?'.

"But it's been really good. I guess the more we've grown up the more we've agreed on a lot more things. If we were 15 and 16, there's no way we could've done this."

The sisters have also worked together to help build the Tigers' juniors.

Pulling coaches the club's 17 and under netballers who will also feature on the grand final stage.

"Carly and I have worked close together because we want the 17s and A grade to do the same stuff," she said.

"That has probably helped as well when you're on the same page. She is serious but she's fun."

Pulling, a mum to Zola, 15 months, returned to the courts in 2019.

The year off came at the ideal time for the St Pius Primary School teacher's aide.

But it took the goal keeper time to re-adjust to the rigours of netball.

"Coming back into it I didn't realise how unfit I was," Pulling said.

"I really enjoyed pre-season and I never usually do, I am normally the one who is like 'oh, nah I can't make it tonight'.

"But I think because I knew I was a fair bit behind everyone else I wanted to make sure I got in the side."

Pulling has slotted back into her customary goal keeper position after spending time at goal defence.

She believes she plays at her best in the Tigers' defensive goal ring.

"I started in goal defence and I usually only play goal keeper so I had to put in a bit of effort," she said.

"It took me a couple of games to adjust and just through changes we made I ended up back in goal keeper.

"I've had a couple of other runs in goal keeper but it's way out of my league, too much running for me."

Pulling's partner Cameron O'Flaherty will also have a role to play on grand final day as coach of Merrivale's under 18 football side.

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