Shooter’s deft turn in defence

WENTWORTH’S Elizabeth Rowe found herself in unfamiliar territory on Saturday, stepping away from shooting to play as goal keeper.

Wentworth, who were down a player in Natalie Vercher, had to make some switches for round 15’s game against Imperials, moving Rowe, a goal shooter, into defence.

The twenty-year-old said she had never played as goal keeper before, but enjoyed the experience.

“I’ve literally been a shooter for like 15 years, so being able to switch it up is really fun,” she said.

“I was a little bit worried because it is still A grade, but it felt good and being with Christie Becker (GD) felt good, she is good at what she does.”

Rowe said she was glad she could still perform well for her team, who defeated Imperials 72-30, while in a position she was unfamiliar with.

Rowe was a key player for the team on Saturday, showing her versatility by intercepting or rebounding several plays throughout the game.

“I think at training I was put there as a bit of a joke and then it kind of just looked like I knew what I was doing, but I really had no idea,” she said.

“It just seemed to work so we just stayed with it. I guess somebody had to step up.”

After Saturday’s game, coach Amanda Edwards said Rowe had played an “awesome game”.

“That’s a great thing about having versatile players, you know she can play both ends really well, so we’re very lucky with that,” she said.

“I thought Lizzie stepped up (Saturday) and did really well.”

Rowe, who has played A grade for the club since she was 14, said playing for Wentworth had been great.

“I have played at Wentworth my whole life,” she said.

“It is an amazing team, I have never played in a team like it.”

She said her team, which have yet to be defeated this season, had their eyes set on the premiership cup.

“We all work really hard and we all really want that end cup,” she said.

“There were a couple of us that were in that losing premiership a couple of years ago and I think we are all really pushing to not let that happen again. We have got our heads down and are ready to go.”

Rowe said the club was a “big family thing” for her, especially due to her father being the president of the Wentworth Football Netball Club.

“It is such a good culture, especially right now as it is a really young group,” she said.

“Everybody is happy to hang out, even when there are no functions, everybody just wants to be together.”

As this week’s Netballer of the Round, Rowe receives $100 courtesy of Mildura Golf Resort and Sunraysia Daily.