HORTON HELPS LUCKY DEVILS

EAST Geelong defenders had a rude awakening last Saturday when one of the region’s most damaging goal shooters took to the court for Corio.

While a GFL bye gave most of Geelong’s best players a week off, South Barwon star Ruby Horton (pictured) took the opportunity to do a favour for former Swans teammate and Devils coach Bridgitte Burns.

Work commitments have seen Horton play less frequently at South Barwon this season, but with a weekend off and no commitments, the 190cm forward said it was the perfect chance to help out a friend.

“Bridgitte has been working really hard at building up the club and I thought it would be good to play out there, and good to get some match time for me as well,” Horton said.

“She is doing a really good job and I think it would be great in her first year of coaching if they could make finals.

“Each week there has been a few B-graders from South Barwon who go out and play A-grade at Corio, but I think this will be a one-off for me.

“It was a lot rougher (than GFL) but it is still a good standard. It is different but it was quite rough, which was good.”

South Barwon players Jenna Boseley and Ellen Doyle also played for Corio, which defeated East Geelong 49-33.

The win kept the Devils in the top five, with Horton — who was named by the Geelong Advertiser as the GFNL’s sixth best player earlier in the year — scoring 32 goals.

With the Swans sitting third in the GFL and one of the contenders to take Newtown’s crown, the beauty therapist said she was hopeful her availability would become greater once finals rolled around.

“I’m hoping I’ll get to play every week, I think work will allow me to do that as they’re aware of how important finals are and netball is to me,” she said.

Corio plays Winchelsea on Saturday, while Horton will be back in the red, white and blue for South Barwon as it takes on Grovedale at Burdoo Reserve.