BFNL 17-and-unders lay vital foundations

BFNL 17-and-under netball co-coach Nicole Donnellon has branded the team’s tense one-goal loss to Ovens and Murray as an encouraging start to their representative season campaign.

Down by as many as nine goals early in the final quarter at the QEO on Saturday, Bendigo thundered home to almost steal an unlikely victory.

In a cliff-hanging ending, the ball reached the hands of Bendigo goaler Peyton Chambers as the siren sounded, leaving them a goal short of the gritty visitors.

While it was not the result Donnellon, co-coach Sharni McPherson and their players had hoped for, it set the scene for an exciting few weeks ahead as the team sets its sights on again qualifying for next month’s Association Championships.

The BFNL will line-up in this weekend’s annual Central Victorian Netball Association tournament as a warm up to the Northern Zone qualifiers in Echuca on 14 June.

A top two finish in Echuca will see them earn their spot at the Association Championships finals in Melbourne on 21 June.

“Sharni and I were absolutely rapt with the girls,” Donnellon said.

“To be nine goals down at one stage during the last quarter and to have the ball land in the goal circle when the siren went and almost have a chance to tie it up, was pretty remarkable.

“We threw so many changes … different combinations … and it was the first time some of the girls had played together, so overall we were really happy.

“Really proud of them and their never say die attitude. It could easily have blown out the other way.

“Obviously we would have loved to have drawn the game, but to get all 11 players on the court was pleasing.”

Down by seven goals at half-time, the BFNL won both the third and fourth quarters, the last one 11-6.

An inaugural squad of 12 players, plus two training partners, was reduced to 11 players suiting up due to a long-term injury to Strathfieldsaye defender Eden Pollard.

The team comprised the Storm’s Ady Neilson, Chloe Tweed, Lexie Fennell and Sophie McDermott; Golden Square’s Rachael Flood, Anya Basilewsky, Juliet Hogan, Lily Wise and Scout Hayes; and Kangaroo Flat’s Peyton Chambers and Alexis Manson.

Loaded with versatility and height, Donnellon and McPherson were not afraid to rotate players through more than one position.

“Everyone had great patches and got the opportunity to work on things,” Donnellon said.

“They are great at receiving feedback and trying to implement in their game.

“As young players do, they love being on the court, but they are happy to do the team thing when they are not on the court.”

Going forward, Donnellon said time at training would be devoted to developing the team’s game sense and decision making.

“In the dying 15 seconds we had the ball, but it comes down to the girls being a little more alert and getting that ball moving quickly,” she said.

“We didn’t get the chance to put a shot up, but we could have got it in quicker.

“But that’s a great learning curve.

“We haven’t practiced much of that ‘game sense’ as a team at training yet, but we will.”