Side setting goals
Player morale is a difficult thing to control, particularly when a side is facing what seems to be a never-ending uphill battle.
There are only so many almost-there matches any good athlete can go through before doubts naturally start to creep in and influence players’ thinking.
After a tough 2018 on court for Jeparit-rainbow’s A Grade netballers, involving a deflating batch of narrow losses, it is possible player minds are stirring with some uncertainty about what this season will bring.
But the Storm’s co-coach Ashleigh Morrison said having a season of close matches, even if unsuccessful, had honed the club’s focus for the 2019 season.
“We had some really close games with most sides,” she said.
“We were often in the game until about three-quarter time and were then pushed out in the last quarter.
“So, it will now just be about pulling together all four quarters.
“Our fitness is better this year, which should help eliminate some of those silly mistakes.
“We are just hoping to get some more wins on the board.”
Morrison said an improvement of overall fitness would be the focal point in the team’s Tuesday and Thursday training sessions to revitalise the side and push it up the ladder.
“We are really focusing on fitness at the moment,” she said.
“We are making an effort to mix it up a bit this year – including fitness classes that are fun and help increase numbers.
“We have probably had better numbers than what we had in previous years. Our challenge is just getting everyone together in the one spot.”
The Storm’s strength looks to be in part nestled in its numbers, holding onto most netballers from last year with a few new arrivals and returning members.
Morrison said the flow-through of team cohesion and game-play should set a good pace for the approaching season.
“We have managed to keep most of the girls from last year,” she said.
“It is good to have a lot of the same girls play, so we can start where we left off.”
Morrison, who returns to her role at Jeparit-rainbow for a second year, will be joined by young star Bridget Mckenzie to lead the A Grade outfit.
Mckenzie was the Storm’s A Grade best and fairest winner last season and is eager to step up and experiment in her role. “I coached under-13s a few years ago. I am excited to try out some different things,” she said.
Morrison said Mckenzie was a strong role model for other players, and bringing her on board would be a benefit to the team.
“All the girls really look up to her,” she said.
“She is really keen and enthusiastic, and she won best and fairest last year by a long shot. She is well and truly capable.”
Jeparit-rainbow fired up in round-robin practice matches against Southern Mallee Giants and Birchip-watchem last week, with hopes to fit in another match before the season is underway.