Hawks ring changes to take the points
DRYSDALE coach Leah Wilson has vowed to continue pulling the changes as the Hawks broke through for their first victory of the season on Saturday.
Like the first two rounds, Wilson made many positional moves, but it did little to unbalance her side against Anglesea, running out a 20-goal winner at Ellimatta Reserve.
Only a stagnant last quarter, in which the ’ Seas outscored the Hawks 13-10, took a touch of polish off a solid performance.
“The first three quarters is where we want to be close to, but in saying that, we played with a lot of combinations and I thought the girls handled that well,” Wilson said.
“There was some really nice play at times, so I think it’s coming together. Hopefully next weekend against Portarlington we can step it up again.”
She said she was continuing to look for the best combinations, with only Georgia Berry (37 goals) and Millie Deeath unmoved across the four quarters.
“I made over 20 changes on and off the court and they handled that well, but by the end of the game they were a little bit thrown by it,” Wilson said.
“That’s just something they’re going to have to get used to, because we’ve got lots of young talent in this team and I want to use it all and expose them to A-grade netball, not just this year, but in future years.”
Wilson forecast another three weeks of chopping and changing before the Hawks lock in their best seven.
“We will get to that point (where we have stability), but we are an extremely inexperienced group — we’ve got three or four experienced players — but the rest are young and they just need exposure to find out what it’s all about,” she said.
“The more I can do that, the better Drysdale will be down the track.
“We’ve said that from the start. We’re very much a local group of girls and we want to keep it that way.
“I said to them at the end there that I hope they know all positions are vacant and it’s up to them to step up and fight and show me who really wants to be on that court and who doesn’t.
“Having that pressure behind them and that team camaraderie is what we’re looking for.
“They’re a close group and they’re work for each other, but we need to rotate at this point and hopefully in six weeks’ time we’ll lock it in, settle and we’ll have a starting seven. I can see it coming.”
Wilson was impressed with defenders Maggie Leahy and Nicole Butler, who only swapped bibs on the final term. Toni Lind was excellent in centre and wing attack.
“Maggie, our goal defence was outstanding, Hannah (Kennedy) was very good through the middle and Toni played a beautiful game,” she said.
“They’re the experienced group, but I was also happy with the young ones.
“Zali (Havelberg) coming on in goal attack, she hasn’t played in goals, she’s a defender and to step on and be our starting goal attack, that’s awesome. That’s what we’re looking for.”