Geelong Amateur goalshooter Ruby Watson became the first Geelong region netballer to shoot 1000 goals in a season.
Watson, 27, scored 88 goals against Portarlington in the Bellarine Netball League round 17 game on Saturday August 5 and has an astonishing 1001 goals this season with still one home and away match to come.
With the match firmly in Ammos’ keeping (they won 90 to 31), Watson’s A Grade teammates were frantically trying to get her to the magical 1000 mark in the final quarter.
Watson said it meant a lot to achieve the milestone at home in front of her “Ammos family” and not have to wait until this weekend away at Drysdale.
“It had the energy and felt like a grand final and we were one goal down,” she said.
“To be able to do it in our last home game in front of our Ammos family was amazing.
“It was a special moment to be able to do it with everyone. Everyone played with so much purpose and heart. It was relief and pure joy.”
Watson, who stands at 193cm tall, said the crowd started to build when word got around that she was closing in on the 1000 mark.
In the end there were more than 100 people watching.
Watson smashed the previous record of 831 set by Ocean Grove’s Bec O’Neill last season.
“Bec is an amazing player and a really nice person as well,” Watson said of her goalshooting rival.
“Such a special moment, one that I’ll remember forever.”
The focus for Ammos now turns to finals.
Sitting a game clear of Ocean Grove on top of the ladder, Ammos are hot favourites to win back to back premierships.
“We just have to play our game, we know what we can do,” Watson said.
“We know what we’re capable of when we get the basics right.”
Watson said Ocean Grove remained the biggest obstacle to a premiership, but said Queenscliff was also playing well.
The former South Barwon and Geelong Cougars star has no plans to be anywhere else next season.
“I love Ammos – it feels like home,” she said.
