OUYEN United’s Tayla Willsmore has strived to do her best each week, despite this season’s frequent player disruptions.
The goal attack, who began netball as a junior at Walpeup Underbool club, said she played her first A Grade game when she was 13, winning a flag alongside her mother.
After taking a break from netball when she moved away, Willsmore, now 25, is enjoying playing netball for Ouyen United.
Willsmore said it was great her team was doing so well, currently sitting in third place on the ladder, despite a very unpredictable season.
“It has been a very unpredictable year in our A Grade side with COVID and illness in general, and we’ve had a few injuries also,” she said.
“We have been trying different combinations each week just due to that.”
Willsmore joked that she was yet to catch COVID but it would probably be her turn soon.
She said the team was used to changing players around each week.
“We haven’t had a set seven and we won’t have a set seven for the rest of the year and that is what will happen in finals, fresh legs will come on,” she said.
“You never know what will happen.”
Willsmore said each week she would change up how she played with her teammates, adjusting to whoever would be joining her on court.
“I just change (my strategy) up as I’m never playing with the same people in the attack end,” she said.
“We just work it at training however it is going to be on the Saturday.”
She said her main focus at the moment was just practising her shooting, ready for each game day.
Willsmore has played well for her team since the start of the season, appearing several times in the Kanga’s best, alongside consistent players Catherine Brown, Ellen Morrish and Tsharni Burns.
Willsmore and Brown were selected as Ouyen United’s best at the weekend in their match against Imperials at Blackburn Park.
During the match Ouyen United secured their eighth win, only seeing losses from the unbeaten Wentworth and second-placed Mildura.
With only four weeks left till finals, Willsmore said she was excited to see what was ahead.
“Hopefully we just keep continuing to get some more wins on the board,” she said.
“Finals are always a different kettle of fish, we have some level-headed experienced players on our side, so it should be good, I’m looking forward to finals.”
Willsmore said she loved playing netball and enjoyed the social aspects of the club.
“I have always loved netball,” she said.
“It is just so community based, you go out on a Saturday play a game and there is always a good social event afterwards.”
