SHARON Watson believes there will be time to reflect on her 32-year netball career, but that time is not now.
Nine weeks out from the end of her last season playing A Grade netball, the Mildura coach said it was important to remain focused because a mindset shift can lead to bad results.
The first-year Mildura co-coach (Watson shares duties with Jess McNamara) has achieved a decent return for her effort with the Demons – on a 9-2 record – emerging as premiership contenders.
But Watson said despite winning by one point last Saturday, Mildura almost lost the game after letting a 13-goal lead slip, which reminded her that mindset was everything.
“We nearly showed on the weekend that (that success) could have flipped (when) the mindset changes somewhat,” Watson said.
“We’ve got a lot more tough games. I’ll never get too far ahead of myself.”
Watson’s career spans 32 years and includes two premierships with West Gambier netball club during her 300-game career.
But she has also experienced grand final disappointment on at least six occasions.
“I’m really happy with the way everything is progressing. (But) you reflect back a bit more once a season’s done to be quite honest and live for the moment.”
Watson, who began playing netball at age 18, said she found her role as a defender by growing up with two similar-sized sisters who played as attackers.
After moving to Mildura in 2013 and a stint playing for Mildura Heat, Watson made a name for herself in recent years by pushing herself to get the little things right in Mildura’s defence.
“(It’s) just the 1 per cent things – if I miss a rebound, I make sure I don’t miss the next one,” Watson said.
“(I) just try and get a turnover or try to create confusion with the goalie so they have to pass it a bit more and be a little more puffed before they shoot.
“It’s not a defender’s game, it’s an attacker’s game. So, my philosophy is anything that you get is a bonus and hopefully you score up the other end.”
Watson said coaching a Mildura squad made up of players of varying ages was “different” to her experience growing up playing with netballers her own age, but she said COVID-19 had smoothed out differences in approach.
“As an older player, it’s hard because I’m a little bit more old school, but I have managed things very, very differently,” she said.
Watson, who has kept her fitness up by doing pump and weight training along with going for bike rides, said she focused on netball game drills and ensuring everybody enjoyed their netball.
“You don’t want to be a drill sergeant, though I can be at times. It’s just so important we all just enjoy the moment … because who knows what’s around the corner?”
While Mildura sits second on the SFNL ladder, they have received two losses courtesy of Wentworth.
Watson said it was important Mildura continued to lift their effort and concentration as they chased one final shot at toppling the unbeaten Roos but stressed the need to not overlook their next opponent.
“It would be great to make it to that grand final,” Watson said.
“(But) like I said before, I don’t forward think. We’ve got imperials and they’re another strong club – they’ve got height and smarts. So, we just we will have to be on our own game again.”
As the SFNL netballer of the round, Watson receives $100 courtesy of Mildura Golf Resort and Sunraysia Daily.
