Mcdonald grateful for spot in hometown club on her return

Returning from a season with London Pulse netball team in the United Kingdom, Sacha Mcdonald has hit the court with her hometown club, Edenhope-apsley, for the remainder of the 2022 season.

Throughout the past five years, McDonald has been a member of Netball Victoria’s Victorian Fury representative side and Melbourne Vixens squad, before jetting off in February to compete in the Vitality Netball Super League.

Mcdonald said it was within a matter of weeks that she, along with teammate and friend Tayla Honey, decided to take the opportunity to play for London Pulse. “The opportunity popped up and we boarded a plane not many weeks later and headed over,” she said.

“It was an awesome experience; London is an awesome city. I loved it.

“The netball was really cool, as was everything outside of netball – the team made it easy.”

During the 2022 season with London Pulse, Mcdonald scored 226 goals at 86 percent accuracy across 22 games.

Mcdonald said it was good timing to be back in Australia in time to play in the A Grade side with Edenhope-apsley in Horsham District league.

“I am really lucky that coach Sarah

Domaschenz opened up a spot for me, as she didn’t have to – because we have a lot of really good players on our list,” she said.

“The timing has worked out perfect to come back in and play a few games before finals, and hopefully go well into the finals.”

Mcdonald said it had not been easy to slot into the team despite having played with several members before.

“We had a bit of a debrief after our first game and I said it was a little bit tricky to find my feet,” she said.

“I played a very different role in goal attack in London than I do back here, and getting 36 goals is a little bit more than I usually shoot because I was taking on more of a feeding role outside the ring.

“It was definitely a bit of an adjustment, and the league is pretty strong here.

“What makes it a lot easier is the girls that we have around us, we have a really strong team.”

Edenhope-apsley will play Laharum and Harrow-balmoral in rounds 15 and 16, before finals start on August 20.

Mcdonald said she was confident the team could put on a strong performance in coming games.

“Carlee Feder and I have never played with each other before, but she was easy to work with in goals as she has a nice, strong hold,” she said.

“Emily Burgess and I have had a similar pathway over the years, and I have come into contact with her, so it has been awesome to reconnect.

“Hayley Campbell was my coach growing up, Domaschenz has coached me before, and I’ve played with Sarah Burgess, so it has been a really cool team to mesh together this year.”

Mcdonald was unable to discuss her netball plans for 2023, but is hopeful she will have a confirmed plan in place in the coming weeks.