Game smarts behind Geelong Amateur’s undefeated netball streak

GEELONG Amateur’s top coach has credited smart players with her A-grade side’s 12-game undefeated run.

After losing by a goal in the 2025 grand final, the Amateurs have not dropped a premiership point since.

Three games clear on top of the Bellarine Netball League ladder, coach Kaitlyn Sheringham said game smarts has kept the team winning despite an influx of new players.

New signings include Bec Winch and Isabella Baker in goals, with Courtney Coutts and Jessica Standfield in defence. Eliza Oxley has also stepped up from B-grade.

“We’ve got some really smart netballers in our side, so I’m always open to conversations and how we combat those really top teams,” Sheringham said.

“We want to go one better [than last year] so we’re strategising and trying to get the game plan right.”

Sheringham said her side has been switched on since early preseason, focusing on game strategy.

Now starting to play teams for a second time, Sheringham said she is working with the side to adjust their games according to the opposition.

She will be looking into the teams clubs have put on court to help guide how her side plays in the later part of the season.

In her second year in the top job, Sheringham said she feels more comfortable than before and confident in the decisions she is making.

Taking to the court herself has added an additional layer of complexity but one she thinks makes her a better coach.

“You can get out on the court and you can get a feel of how it’s going and how the team are feeling and what the style of game is,” she said.

“Sometimes it’s a little bit easier sitting back on the sideline and being able to make those coaching choices, but I’ve always had great support from whoever is on the bench with me to make those calls as well.”

As for the players who were brought into the side for the 2026 season, Sheringham has been impressed with their adjustments to top grade netball.

“We did lose a few last year so we had to replace those really great players that that we lost,” Sheringham said.

“We’ve definitely worked our way into the season and it is starting to click now through both ends of the court.”

The club’s long-term investment in its junior program is also paying off, with junior players stepping into senior netball seamlessly.

Rebuilding B-grade alongside A-grade this year, Sheringham said the opportunity to play high grade netball has not been lost on young players.

Admittedly clunky early in the year, pre-season matches and time helped create better cohesion among the squad.

“It was something that we really wanted to focus on. A-grade’s another step up, so we thought, giving those juniors a year in B-grade and seeing what they can produce is really important,” she said.

Geelong Amateur will welcome Drysdale to Queens Park Reserve this weekend.