Safety in numbers
Warrack Eagles’ netballers were the class of Wimmera Netball Association’s A Grade competition in 2018. Until the finals came around.
The Eagles racked up an impressive 14-2 win-loss record and a dominant percentage of more than 190 during the home and away rounds.
The team could easily have finished the season undefeated. Its two losses were both by two goals – to Minyip-murtoa in round three and Horsham in round 13.
With the minor premiership sewn up and a double chance in hand, the Eagles looked primed for a grand final assault.
Instead, they were bundled out of the finals in straight sets.
Returning co-coach Sarah Spicer said a confluence of unfortunate circumstances hampered the team’s finals run.
Spicer was injured on the Thursday before the Eagles’ semi-final against Horsham, a game they lost by eight goals.
“I’m not suggesting I was so vitally important on the court that we lost, but just mentally for some of the girls it might have impacted them not having our usual line-up,” she said.
“Then Horsham Saints were strengthened by the return of Rene Caris in the preliminary final.
“We probably didn’t adjust to that well enough.
“There were a few things out of our control, but you try to learn from it and hopefully we learn from it this season.”
One factor sure to aid the Eagles this season is the return of nearly all of last year’s side.
Zandria Malone, departed for Laharum in the Horsham District Football Netball League, is the team’s only loss.
Spicer said continuity had aided Warrack for several years.
“Continuity is good for us, and we’ve probably had that for the past eight years or so where the squad doesn’t change a hell of a lot,” she said.
“You get to know each other’s game, and it helps a lot going into each season.”
Spicer said Molly Stewart, who filled in for last year’s A Grade side despite being a 15-and-under player, would feature more regularly.
Spicer said this year’s team was eager to atone for last season’s poor finals performance, but was not getting ahead of itself.
She said the Eagles would take the season as it came to them and aim to put themselves in the best position for finals, rather than setting any concrete goals at the outset.
“There is no use setting expectations too high, we just have to give ourselves the best chance we can,” she said.
“We want to put ourselves in the best position we can and see what happens.
“Ideally we would finish top three and give ourselves a double chance.
“Horsham Saints have shown the past two years that you only need to make the finals.
“They were fifth last year and they won the grand final, so you just need to be there at the end of the year and anything can happen.”