General News
23 April, 2025
Netball wrap: Quick goals, versatility checks and morning runs
MITIAMO has launched its A Grade netball premiership defence in spectacular fashion, sinking an astonishing 94 goals against Calivil on Saturday. The scoring frenzy – that’s a goal a little less than every 40 seconds for the Superoos alone –...
MITIAMO has launched its A Grade netball premiership defence in spectacular fashion, sinking an astonishing 94 goals against Calivil on Saturday.
The scoring frenzy – that’s a goal a little less than every 40 seconds for the Superoos alone – led to a 94-44 final total.
It helped set the seal on a big weekend for Miti, with the senior men’s football team winning its first game since July 2023.
You have to go back to round six of the 2023 season to find a higher score, when Marong netted 101 goals to Bears Lagoon Serpentine’s 31.
Coach Abbey Battersby, in her first game in charge of Mitiamo, said the players discussed at three-quarter time trying to reach 100 goals.
However, in the heat and after choosing to keep on court the same seven players all game, the Superoos ran out of juice.
The bench was made up of A Reserve players who had run out a full game earlier: “They were already pretty buggered,” Battersby said. The court surface was radiating heat, and conditions were “the hottest we have ever played in”.
The Superoos led by 20 goals at quarter-time, and 29 at half-time before really stepping on the pedal in the third quarter, scoring 28 goals to 10.
The Demons held their own in the last quarter, scoring 16 goals to Mitiamo’s 19. alivil, though, was dominant in the junior ranks, winning 52-1 in 13-and-under, 80-11 in 15-and-under, and 76-41 in the 17-and-under competition.
Pyramid Hill prevailed in a tough battle with Marong at Malone Park, 50-57.
Last season’s runners up were challenged strongly by the Panthers but held onto a narrow lead throughout.
Bulldogs coach Chelsea Emmerson said Marong was a good side.
“It was really only a couple of missed goals and good rebounds that separated us,” she said.
Centre Morgan Dingwall was Pyramid Hill’s best, along with Abbey Dingwall at goal defence.
The Bulldogs face last season’s nemesis, Mitiamo, at home after the Easter bye.
“We’ve had a really hard start to the season with Newbridge and Marong, both strong teams that are not to be discounted at all,” Emmerson said. And with Bears Lagoon Serpentine and Bridgewater to follow after Mitiamo, the season only gets tougher for the Bulldogs.
Bears Lagoon Serpentine is on top of the ladder after a big win over struggling Inglewood.
Given the Bears were winless in 2023, making the finals last season and starting 2025 in excellent form represents a remarkable turnaround in fortunes.
Serp, led by star shooter Ava Francis, last season’s league rising star, won 57-25 as the Woodies were outclassed.
Inglewood’s best players in the absence of last season’s best-and-fairest Abbey Hayes, were centre Lily Wynne and goal keeper Grace Christiansen.
Bridgewater has won its first match of the season with a 54-41 victory over Maiden Gully.
The Mean Machine rebounded after their narrow loss to Bears Lagoon Serpentine in round one to record a comfortable win, pulling away in the third quarter with 15 goals to nine.
Maiden Gully sits 1-1 for the season, along with Bridgewater, with the teams in sixth and fifth place on the ladder respectively.
BOORT is unbeaten after two rounds of North Central A Grade netball, but new coach Carly Isaac admits her own form is “not great”.
It might have something to do with running 32km in the morning before playing St Arnaud in the afternoon of round one.
Or running 24km in last Saturday’s heat before hitting the court against Charlton.
Isaac is training for the Ballarat Marathon in two weeks’ time and is “tapering” for the event, in which she is aiming to break three hours for the first time.
So, Isaac has a fair bit on her plate given it is her first season in charge of the Magpies, but she is managing the multi-tasking with aplomb. Her side beat Charlton 62-47 and sits third on the ladder.
“It was a good little battle in the heat,” Isaac said.
She nominated goal keeper Roxy Train as Boort’s best player after her face off with Charlton’s star shooter Chloe Walsh.
Boort is matched up against Donald after Easter, with Isaac unsure if she will play a day before her marathon.
Teammate Sophie Perryman is also taking part in the marathon and may also miss the netball clash.
Regardless, the squad will train hard over the break.
“We’ll push through. There’s plenty to work on and a lot of work to do, and we’ll make sure we get the most out of it” Isaac said.
WEDDERBURN is back in its familiar spot on top of the North Central A-Grade netball ladder after a big win over St Arnaud.
The 73-24 victory gave coach Susie Lockhart a chance to experiment with players in different positions and to test their versatility.
“We’re not getting players set in particular positions until we’ve worked out what our best team is as the season moves on,” she said.
This meant goal shooter Kelsey Pallpratt spending a half playing in mid-court as centre, and usual centre Olivia Lockhart moving to a goaler position, among other changes.
Sandhurst recruit Pallpratt’s early days with the Redbacks have been impressive, with Lockhart naming her as the team’s best against the Saints.
“She showed how athletic she is, and she was the standout player on the day.”
The Redbacks we re in control throughout, winning each quarter
Wedderburn won’t rest during the Easter break, with recruit and “fitness guru” Paige Ryan, an occupational therapist by profession and a keen runner, leading a group fitness session tonight.
The Redbacks will face the league’s new team Calder United in round three.
The Lions narrowly beat Donald in round one before falling by 13 goals to Sea Lake Nandaly on Saturday.