WATCHING the work you put in start to bring a game plan to fruition is a great feeling for any coach.
In her first year in charge of Irymple’s A Grade netball side, Shelby Trigg is finding that out first-hand on the training track.
After a third place finish last year and a straight sets finals exit, the Swallows top grade line-up is set to look different this year, and a new coach also means new ideas and tactics.
While basketball converts Bronte Pezzaniti and Vanessa Power won’t line-up again, and young trio MacKenzie Ryan, Lily Droffelaar and Keita McKee are out, there is plenty of talent coming back into the squad.
A big inclusion is Samantha Garraway from Bambill, with the gun defender a runaway winner of the A Grade Dot Wilson Trophy in the MFNL last year.
Eliza Weaver, who played in the Swallows last premiership in 2017 is back in the frame, while impressive young players Ashton Wade and Alice Leeder will also pull on the blue and gold.
“Pre-season has gone really well,” Trigg said. “It was a bit overwhelming the amount of numbers we had but once we’ve been able to go through the trials and have everyone into their squads and focus of netball specific drills it’s been great.
“Seeing it all come together after a pre-season is great, during practice matches where you see what you’ve been working on fall into place.
“There’s lots of new faces and some we maybe weren’t expecting who have definitely helped make up for some of the players we’ve lost.
“Sam Garraway has been very impressive at either end of the court, she just reads the game so well and she’ll fit in well, and Eliza Weaver who played in our last premiership team is also back.
“A couple of younger players in Ashton Wade and Alice Leeder have both looked really good so far, joining the likes of Sophie Price Elyse Kempton, Indi Spratt, Evie Oldham and Shak Delcastegne from last year.”
While the Swallows won’t hit the court until Good Friday against South Mildura with a round 1 bye, recent practice matches against Imperials and Mildura have proved a good opportunity to blow the cobwebs out.
“I think we walked away from the Imps practice game thinking we’re glad we start a few weeks later than others, but we definitely felt really good after the Mildura game,” Trigg said.
“I think it will be handy to have those extra few weeks just get some more things in order.”
