Doyle dominates in romp
Netball season is well and truly under way, with the Geelong Netball League finally kicking its season off on Saturday.
Here are nine key takeaways from the opening rounds of the GNL, BNL and GDNL.
SWANS SHOOTER STARTS IN STYLE
Coming off a lazy 818 goals last season, South Barwon goaler Ellen Doyle started her season in style in her side’s 75-27 win over Grovedale.
Doyle scored 58 goals against the Tigers – 15 more than Geelong West’s Aleisha McDonald – in a dominant shooting display at Burdoo Reserve. She would be the $1.01 favourite to finish 2024 with the most goals after averaging 43 per game last season.
BELL PARK GIVES PREMIERS A SCARE
Bell Park narrowly missed the finals last season but the Dragons nearly overcame last year’s premiers in round 1.
The Dragons led Colac narrowly at the quarter and halftime breaks, with scores level at the final change. But Colac stormed home with a 18-9 final quarter to win 52-41.
Nonetheless, it was still an impressive effort that should fill them with confidence.
BIG MARGINS
After a relatively even competition from a ladder perspective, there was just one game decided by under 12 goals in the opening round.
That was Bell Park’s impressive effort against Colac.
The other four games were very one-sided affairs – South Barwon won by 48, Geelong West by 36, Newtown & Chillwell by 34 and St Joseph’s by 33.
Let’s hope this divide doesn’t continue into the season.
GRAND FINAL REPEAT?
Both Bellarine netball’s reigning premiers and last year’s grand finalists have enjoyed 3-0 starts to the season, but in vastly different ways.
The Ammos, who went down by eight goals in last year’s decider, have barely been tested with an average winning margin of 35 goals while title defenders the Grubbers have survived two close games, both by two goals over Queenscliff and Torquay.
They will face off in just a few weeks in early May to assert some early season dominance.
RUBY RUNS RIOT
The Ammos’ sharp shooter has been the leading scorer in BFNL netball so far, her 154 goals well clear of her nearest rival in Queenscliff’s Tess Orvis (82).
Her biggest haul for the season so far has been 61 goals against Queenscliff while she was particularly accurate against Modewarre, landing 40 from 45 attempts.
However, when it comes to forward precision in the league’s top 10 that belongs to the Grubbers’ Zanna Woods, with an incredible 90 per cent accuracy.
BIG IMPROVERS
Newcomb and Anglesea have been the big improvers on last year after three rounds of Bellarine netball.
The Power and the Roos have gone from sixth and seventh place respectively in 2023 to surge into the top four with just one loss between them.
Newcomb are developing a habit of winning the close ones after one-goal victories over Torquay and Barwon Heads over the past two games, while Anglesea also beat the Seagulls by the barest of margins in round 1.
TIGERS KEEP COOL
Last year’s Geelong & District semi-finalists Thomson are 0-2 to start the year, though you could argue that’s down to a tough opening draw and newlook squad.
The Tigers remained extremely competitive against two of the league’s top three in Winchelsea (15 goal margin) and East Geelong (nine) despite retaining just two from last year’s finals roster.
Co-coach Allie Drake’s return in defence helps, with fellow co-coach Shannyn Leach confident after their clash against the Eagles they just need some time to gel.
LEAVING SOME GOALS ON COURT
You can’t fault an unbeaten start to the season but there appears to be a slight lack of polish in the Winchelsea’s goal circle.
Though Ebony Berg shot with 100 per cent accuracy in their most recent win against Bannockburn, the preliminary finalists' had three other goalers under 65 per cent.
For a team who scored the most goals in 2023, they rank sixth for goals scored so far, though their defensive work has more than made up for it in the opening two rounds.
TAKING NEXT STEP
The question in the GDNL this year will be who can take the biggest step towards contending for finals.
Inverleigh missed on percentage last year, so won’t be counted out, but it’s Belmont Lions who have impressed most so far from those outside the top five.
The Lions snatched a onegoal win over the Hawks in round 1 and got within nine goals of Corio on Saturday, in part due to Angelique Ross’ form (77 goals at 78 per cent accuracy) in the goal circle.
Meanwhile, keep an eye on Anakie, led by a father-daughter coach-captain duo in Doug and Eden Mitchell.
The young side likely needs more time to come into the conversation but a 20-goal win over North Geelong, who ranked similarly to the Roos last year, shows improvement.