MERBEIN 43
ROBINVALE EUSTON 42
BEST: Merbein: E. Carmichael, S. White. Robinvale Euston: G. Kelly, I. Giofrelle.
THREE THINGS WE LEARNT
INTENSITY WITHOUT COMPOSURE IS A RECIPE FOR DISASTER: Both Merbein and Robinvale-Euston showed how important it can be to slow down sometimes, even in such a close and fast-paced game. Merbein coach Breigh Hammet said at times her women “just needed to settle”. When the opposition plays with high intensity, you have to match that, but it can be easy to forget to slow down, think, and play to your team’s game style.
JUNIORS KEEP THE LEAGUE YOUNG: The unprecedented number of young players there are in the league this year might be just what A Grade needs to speed things up in the centre of the court. After a year away from games, a lot of top-age juniors have moved up the ranks into A Grade, and a lot of underaged netballers are playing up too. The youth through the centre, including the Giofrelle sisters, Georgia Kelly and Indie Kirby of Robinvale Euston, were almost enough to tip the scales in their team’s favour.
A CLEAN GAME’S A GOOD GAME: Merbein and Robinvale Euston bring out the best traits of sportspeople in each other. Although it was hard-fought and neck-and-neck, both coaches were impressed with the integrity of players across the court. They said tussling with your talent is always the way to go in netball, and both had nothing but positive feedback about their opponents. Both teams agreed a game without drama is the best kind.
SUNRAYSIA Football Netball League teams finished round 1 over the weekend with exactly the burning intensity expected after a year off.
Merbein defeated Robinvale Euston in the closest match of the weekend by just one point, 43-42.
And Merbein coach Breigh Hammet said it could have been anyone’s win.
“I couldn’t tell you how many times the lead changed, I lost track of it, to be honest,” Hammet said.
“Both teams had a lot of changes since the last season … there’s a lot of youth coming up with those 17s which is really good.”
She said the youth in both teams made for a quick game through the midcourt.
“It was a fast-paced game which had a lot of turnovers both ways … they’d get it and get two goals up then we’d get it and get two goals up.”
Hammet said everyone did their part to secure the win as a team.
“In the first half, our goalers were definitely keeping us in it … they were doing really well in the attacking end,” she said.
“It then transitioned and by the second half our defence had really stepped up and were keeping us in the game and getting those turnovers.
“We were down going into the fourth quarter but our defence really turned it on and got us back in the game.
“For our best I picked Steph White and Emily Carmichael because they were consistent all game without errors.
“Robinvale’s defensive circle was amazing … then there’s also their centre and the youth were really, really good.
“The young girls put on so much pressure down the centre of the court.
“They weren’t going to stop, they were going to keep going even if they were tired and they kept that intensity up all game which was amazing.
“Yesterday our intensity was so high but we also need to be composed.”
Hammet said it felt “amazing” to be back at the court after such a long time off.
“We just fought it out … the possibility to win was there so the women just scrounged it out to the end,” she said.
“As much as it was a close game, the sportsmanship was great from both teams.”
Robinvale Euston coach Maria Absalom said her team hit the court on the weekend giving it their all.
“It was a testament to how much we’ve trained over the past few weeks and putting everything we’ve worked on into practice for the first game,” she said.
“It was good to watch.
“The score did reflect the game, Merbein came out strong as well.
“We’ve got good patterns on the court, it’s good to see the women enjoying it all but we are going to improve as well.
“We’re going to work on having aggression over the ball, getting more possessions held and having more confidence.”
In other matches on Saturday, Ouyen United defeated Mildura 39-33 and Wentworth smashed Red Cliffs 77-24, while Imperials had the bye.
