Hot shot leading South Barwon from under the ring credits club culture with success

THERE is something in the water at South Barwon and it has their A grade side on a roll.

Sitting a game clear on top of the Geelong Netball League ladder, as the Swans prepare for their toughest run of the year so far, star shooter Ellen Doyle said the side’s confidence comes from off the court.

A South Barwon junior, she said the lasting impact the club has on its members is unlike any other.

With a swarth of players and coaches returning to the club after pursuing high level opportunities, Doyle’s love for her home club is not unique.

“From the outside people don’t know what it’s like at South Barwon, we probably do seem a little bit full-on, but we are so supportive of each other,” Doyle said.

“Once you’re in the club, you see that it’s just so special and you leave with the aura of wanting to come back.”

Not even high paying offers from country leagues has been persuasive enough for Doyle to consider leaving.

“Yes, it’s nice to be paid to play netball, but I just don’t think you could ever get a club that makes you want to be a better person and player like South Barwon,” she said.

Now in her fifth consecutive A grade season for the club, Doyle said incoming coaches Renee Lane and Sasha Romerill have breathed new life into the squad.

Investment in off-court processes has helped elevate the side even further.

Access to footage of their games has allowed the side to better understand where and how they can improve.

For Doyle personally, watching back the games has given her a new opportunity to analyse her own play.

The league’s top goal shooter, Doyle has already scored 229 times this year, with just four games under her belt.

While game analysis has helped her get under the ring more frequently, she said the secret to her accuracy lies not only in practice, but also in the past.

“I was a defender when I played juniors and even for a while when I played VNL,” Doyle said.

“I know how frustrating it is as a defender when your goal shooter misses a goal and the ball comes back to you.

“You’re like ‘I worked so hard to defend it and intercept that ball’.”

Adding another 61 goals to her season tally in the Swans’ win over St Albans in last weekend, Doyle is pleased with her side’s 92-26 win.

It is a game that set them up well for a tough test against Leopold this weekend.

“Leopold have recruited quite a bit, so it’s going to be a great challenge,” Doyle said.

“We had a week off last week, because Lara didn’t have an A grade team, it was nice to have a little bit of a break to reset, and then we’re in this harder chunk of games.

“As a team we play better when we’re playing against a better team, so, I think we’re going to be really challenged and produced and hopefully great netball in the coming weeks.”