Coach full of praise for milestone Roosters goal shooter

NORTH Ballarat multiple-premiership coach Annie McCartin has lauded star goal shooter Maddy Selmon following her 250th club game for the Roosters in last Saturday’s win over Bacchus Marsh at Eureka Stadium.

Combining with her long-time partner in the goal circle Poppy Douglas, Selmon topped all players on court with 34 goals at 89.47 per cent, as the Roosters overcame a brave Cobras for a 55-44 triumph.

Their 11-goal victory was extremely hard earned.

The Roosters trailed a resurgent Bacchus Marsh 10-8 at quarter-time, but fought back to establish a three-goal buffer at half-time.

The Cobras’ cause was not helped by an ankle injury to young centre Ally Keating in the second quarter.

A 17-8 third quarter, which included 12 goals from Selmon in her milestone match, proved telling and helped the Roosters get across the line for their fourth win of the season.

McCartin was full of praise for Selmon as an integral part of the Roosters’ sustained success on the netball court.

“It is a wonderful achievement. Maddy is a great club person, a great person in her herself and has been here since 2012 when she was a junior,” she said.

“She was an amazing junior, came up to the seniors pretty young, and has been such an asset and a vital member of our team.”

McCartin said Maddy’s record of four A-grade premierships and eight junior flags spoke for itself.

“She is such a powerhouse down in that goal shooting position,” she said.

“Get the ball down there and nine times out of 10 she will score the goal.

“She is so strong and if she does happen to miss, she will get the rebound.

“She is unbelievable and just keeps getting better. It’s a beautiful partnership between her and Poppy (Douglas).”

Selmon’s 250 club games include 150 senior games.

It was a big day for milestones at North Ballarat, with midcourter turned defender Milly Simpson suiting up for her 200th club game and continuing her great early season form in the new role.

Four wins from five games has the Roosters in third place on the ladder behind Sunbury (5-0) and Lake Wendouree (4-0-1), ahead of a tough encounter against an in-form Redan (3-2) at City Oval.

Much like against the Cobras, who have recruited heavily and astutely for this season, McCartin said her side could expect more of the unexpected from Redan.

“We will really need to be on our game and at our best,” she said.

“They are tall in defence and very quick through the midcourt.

“We just need to play our game and keep the defensive pressure up all over the court.”

Following a couple of nail-biters in round four, including the Roosters’ one-goal win over Melton and a draw between Darley and Lake Wendouree, round four proved to be lopsided, with North Ballarat’s 11-goal margin over Bacchus Marsh easily the lowest.

Sunbury, Lake Wendouree, Darley and Redan all won by 30-plus goals.

A week after scoring 94 goals in a win over Ballarat, gun Sunbury goal shooter Rebecca Hicks followed up with 72 against East Point.

Round 5 recap: Sunbury 76 def East Point 41; Sebastopol 36 lost to Lake Wendouree 68; North Ballarat 55 def Bacchus Marsh 44; Darley 64 def Ballarat 27; Redan 65 def Melton 31.

Round 6 draw: Sebastopol v Darley; Bacchus Marsh v Ballarat; Redan v North Ballarat; Lake Wendouree v Sunbury; East Point v Melton.