Ready to rise
Jeparit-rainbow netballers will step onto the court for an A Grade Horsham District finals series for the first time in a long time this weekend.
After being denied the chance to play finals after the abandoned 2021 season and qualifying fifth, the Storm has replicated its efforts in 2022 and can follow through on a chance to make a true August impact.
After a strong start to the 2022 season, defeating Rupanyup and Edenhope-apsley in the first two rounds, the Storm ran into roadblocks in the form of Laharum and Kaniva-leeor United.
It was a poor showing against the Cougars in round four with the Storm mounting no fightback after being jumped in the first half and eventually losing by 17 goals.
But the result might have something to do with an early onset of the COVID-19-RAID that bit down hard on the Storm in round five, impacting the club’s senior football and netball teams, and ultimately forcing a forfeit of the Storm’s A Grade team against Kalkee.
The Storm was significantly better than the mid-pack all year, comfortably defeating Swifts, Pimpinio and Natimuk United in consecutive games before losing to Harrow-balmoral in round 10.
Given its losses to teams below them on the ladder, its untested record against Kalkee, its split record against Edenhope-apsley, and its inability to get the better of Laharum, it is hard to know where the Storm sits among this year’s finals contenders. To finish the season only two wins away from the league’s primary challengers and the edge of the top four provides a strong base for Jeparit-rainbow to compare themselves with in 2023.
But before next season comes around, the Storm has a chance to make a 2022 statement – in an elimination final against Noradjuha-quantong on Sunday at Natimuk.
Heading into the game as underdogs, the Storm will rely on its leaders Georgia Batson and Penny Fisher, experienced players and 2022 coaches, to get the better of the Bombers’ attacking firepower.
Before the season got underway, club president Jason Huston said his senior netball and football sides had ‘promised a lot’ but had not yet delivered.
“We have been up there but have not gone to the next level yet,” he said.
This is the chance for the Storm to find that next level, even if they sit clear fifth in a long line of sides trying to make something of the league’s post-covid-restriction return.
A basket of goals early from Maddison Mara or Fisher, or a strong first half from Bridget Mckenzie in defence could be enough to spur the Storm deeper into its first finals series in nearly a decade.