Back to strength
Wimmera Netball Association reigning A Grade premiers Horsham Saints have squeezed into the finals after a topsyturvy season battling significant playerunavailability issues.
The team appears vulnerable in the finals but is starting to look strong on paper. A Grade coach Shannon Reinheimer has provided insight into the Saints’ trials and tribulations this season.
At what stage did you believe you had an A Grade team capable of playing finals? Reinheimer: “During our pre-season, we always knew that looking at our team list we had the players to make it through to finals. However, that vision changed at the start of the season with injuries and players absent due to other sporting commitments. The second half of the season was more positive, with players returning and allowing us to have a full squad to pick from. We have started to all gel at the right time of the season.”
What do you consider have been the major hurdles in getting your team to the finals and how did you overcome them? Reinheimer: “Injuries and unavailability of players has been our biggest hurdle this year. We have been constantly short, which has meant juggling players between A and B grades, which unsettled our girls early in the season. Coming into finals, we have a full squad available and have been able to settle.”
What does your team have to do to get into a position to play off in a grand final? Reinheimer: “We will take a week-by-week approach into the finals. Each team in the top five has very different strategies, and we will take this into account when choosing who takes the court and what positions they play.”
Who have been your key players, leaders, mentors and so on who have helped you get to the finals and what have they done that has impressed you as a coach? Reinheimer: “We have young squad this year with an average age of 18. Ash Grace and myself lead our midcourt truly and provide drive and support for our younger players. We have very young goalies in Maggie Caris, Lavinia Fox and Abby Hallam, who are accurate and play at a high level. Our defence end is also strong, with Rene Caris, Ellie Barnett, Tara Jasper, Gabby O’brien and Holly Ross – our junior development player – who all work hard to shut down the opposition attack.”
From structural, physical and psychological points of view, what are the strengths you can exploit in your team and what are the weaknesses you have to overcome? Reinheimer: “We all have to unite as a team and play our best netball no matter what combination we have on the court. Last year’s premiership and the journey we had to win on the big day is a great psychological advantage to reflect back on and motivate the whole team and give us the belief that we can do it again.” a