Sport
25 July, 2026
Promoting youngsters a sign of future faith
BOORT’S hopes of a double chance in the A Grade netball finals are slipping away.
BOORT’S hopes of a double chance in the A Grade netball finals are slipping away.
A 12-goal loss to second-placed Birchip Watchem has the Magpies two games and five per cent behind the Bulls, with five rounds remaining.
But coach Carly Isaac is bullish about the team’s prospects, especially in the long term, with talented youngsters from Boort’s unbeaten under 17 and under 14 sides being promoted as some senior players are sidelined.
Defender Roxy Train and young star Eliza Perryman were missing against the Bulls.
But Boort was able to field four Under 17 players who doubled up from their junior match to play eight quarters of netball.
Birchip Watchem shot the last seven goals of the game after Boort got within five deep into the final quarter in a belated charge.
For Isaac, the focus now is on juggling the composition of the Magpies’ A and B Grade teams rather than on results, with undefeated Wedderburn awaiting this week.
“We’re just going to keep giving young girls an opportunity,” she said.
WEDDERBURN is now 10-0 for the season after a comfortable 32-goal win over Donald.
The Redbacks have rarely been challenged in 2026 and have a three-game lead over Birchip Watchem on the ladder along with a percentage gap of 60.
Veteran defender Maddi Postle and wing attack Paige Ryan were the team’s best, along with brilliant centre Kelsey Pallpratt, last season’s league and club best and fairest winner.
The remarkable depth that the Redbacks can call on is highlighted by the B Grade side, which has lost only once and sits three games ahead of Donald after beating the Royal Blues 57-42.
Wedderburn travels to Boort this Saturday for the Loddon Derby, keen to continue its dominance.
Read More: Wedderburn