While St Mary’s holds the upper hand to finish the Geelong Netball League season in 5th place, coach Kathryn Vickers knows there is still plenty of netball left to play.
The Saints are a game and a half clear from Lara and Leopold with five rounds remaining in the home and away season.
Saturday’s 54 to 36 win against Lara helped build a handy buffer. A fast start saw St Mary’s lead by nine at the first break.
“We didn’t want Lara to feel like they were in it in that first quarter,” Vickers said.
“We scored 15 goals in that first quarter and that’s what we’ve been focusing on is the intensity in our first quarters. Coming off that Leopold game in the first round, we had a slow start and they were up by 10 in the first quarter and then we were playing catch up the whole game.
“That’s how we lost by five. So we’ve really turned that around.”
St Mary’s run home makes for interesting reading. They have Bell Park (8th), Grovedale (10th), South Barwon (3rd), Geelong West (4th), Newtown & Chilwell (1st) to come.
“All of the games from here on out are important for us,” Vickers said.
“I think we’re improving every single week. We feel like such a different group from the start of the season to now, so we’re excited for the run home.
“It’s a pretty tough competition. Those top three teams – Newtown (& Chilwell), Joeys (St Joseph’s) and South Barwon – I feel like they’re in a league of their own. They’re really strong netball clubs.”
Vickers said she was most pleased with her team’s overall effort in wet conditions on Saturday against the Cats. The Saints were missing three regular midcourters, paving the way for the likes of Sienna Butcher and Harriet Braley to step up from B Grade.
“I think it was the whole team effort,” she said.
“Everyone got around each other. Any changes that we made were still positive changes and everyone that came on did their role really well.
“They (Butcher and Braley) didn’t miss a beat. They knew exactly what we’re doing with the B Grade team and how strong they are. That’s been a bit of a focus of the club – teaching and culture. If you’re doing really well, we’re going to see you come up and perform in a higher grade. It’s just that constant communication of feedback. And it’s been really positive.”
Vickers knows that her team will need to improve to challenge the big three come finals times.
“Just our structure from centre passes and our defensive structure ,” she said.
“We’ve had a couple of people come into the team, but the core is still there. They’re all just being really willing to take on new new things and learn new things.”
ST JOSEPH’S defeated Colac 58 to 35 with Larni Howard starring at wing defence and Ella Closter in goal.
STAR goal attack Julia Woolley was pivotal in Newtown & Chilwell’s 63 to 27 win against Grovedale.
SOUTH Barwon was too good for Bell Park, 60 to 24. Ashleigh Berman was good at goal defence, Ellen Doyle excelled at goal shooter and Tyra Fallon was busy in midcourt.
GEELONG West stayed in 4th spot with a four-goal win against Leopold.
