SHELBY Trigg got her coaching career off to a hot start on Good Friday with Irymple completing an all-the-way 11-goal victory over hosts South Mildura at the Mildura Sporting Precinct.
On another sizzling early season afternoon, the Swallows warmed to their task quickly and extended their lead at each break to wind up 53 to 42 victors.
“It was very good to get the win first-up, despite the heat and a fresh, new-look side,” Trigg said.
“I am very excited about what the season could look like. I didn’t really know what to expect today – some teams have already played two games. Those two weeks have made it feel like were so far behind,” she said.
“The heat and fitness were large factors today and we got a bit lazy at times and were playing high and wide, but that’s something we can all work on.”
The Swallows made the semis last season, but this year’s team features only two returning A Graders.
“We only have two back from last year, myself and Sophie Price,” said Trigg, who’s also one of the team goalers..
Filling the void have been some new recruits and youngsters.
“Our new girl from Red Cliffs, Alice Leeder, was impressive today. She’s a 17-year-old but worked her bum off all day in defence.
“She’s done everything we have asked her to do at training and there’s still lots of development to come, but she’s just a pleasure to coach. And veterans like Sophie just amaze me week in and week out.”
For the Bulldogs, who made finals last year, it’s back-to-back losses to start the new campaign.
But, coach Tara Bate said she saw tangible signs of improvement over the first-round loss to Imperials last week on a similarly well-fried home court.
“The girls started to work a bit better as a team today and they are all really stoked,” Bate said. “We just had a bit of a debrief and the girls are in a happy place.
“All the girls impressed me today. Particularly Sophie Fox, who just keeps doing her thing and impressing me and Alyse Ross was an absolute standout through that mid-court.
“Zero and two to start the season is not ideal but I just told the girls it means we have room for improvement … we’ll just keep focussing on what we are doing as a team and working on those small things that will make us better.
“We went down today but we played really well as a team and that’s all I can really ask.”
