SOUTH Mildura were sneaky good last season.
So good in fact that they made the top five only to be beaten by eventual champions in the A League elimination final.
However, that 9-7 2024 regular season record has raised hopes among Bulldogs fans that better things are on the way this season.
“I don’t want to jinx us and say we will make the finals, but that’s our first goal,” coach and mid-court general Tara Bate said.
Unfortunately, Bate’s season was skuttled by injury late last season, but she’s back in action now and raring to go with a largely unchanged squad.
“I am back on the track again and it’s good to get on the court with the girls. I am really enjoying it,” Bate said before a training session at the Mildura Sporting Precinct.
“The squad is looking pretty good. We haven’t got quite as much depth as we were hoping for.
“We lost some younger girls who are moving away and, due to other things, some players just can’t commit this year.
“But we have picked up some past players and it’s good to see them back on the court.
“Mums coming back out after having their babies. There will be lots of newborns around which will be real nice.”
The goal for South this season is “absolutely 100 per cent premiership”, according to Bate.
“But we also want to really start developing our younger players. We want to focus on that.
“We have a great, strong, older crew but getting some of those juniors coming through and welcoming them out to training will really help boost our depth in the club.”
There will be no creeping up on the opposition this year and the coach is well aware of that.
“I think some clubs may have under-estimated us last season and I don’t think that is going to happen again,” she said.
“Anything can happen and every game is different.
“You never know what’s going to happen on game day; weather plays a big part in that but so does the morale of the girls.
“If they are not having a good day, you are not going to be able to win games.
“I don’t think you can under-estimate any team. I think each side has their good abilities and bad. We just have to perform well week in and week out.”
