BFNL flexes muscles in interleague return

THE BFNL has reinforced its reputation as a Victorian netball powerhouse, delivering a dominant 34-goal win its senior interleague clash with Ovens and Murray at the QEO on Saturday.

Returning to standalone interleague action for the first time since 2018, the BFNL capped an epic performance with an 83-49 triumph.

Dual Kangaroo Flat premiership star Ruby Barkmeyer led the way, earning the best on court medal for a brilliant performance at goal attack.

The former Vixens SSN player and her partner in the goal circle Gabe Richards proved unstoppable as the BFNL, which led 18-11 at quarter time, ran away with the contest.

Bendigo coach Tarryn Rymer hailed a complete performance by her 10-player team against ‘quality’ opposition.

“I knew that the girls would be a polished unit and we were up for a hard hit-out, and it felt physical out there,” she said.

“Ovens and Murray was a young team and they gave their all, so for us it was nice to push that scoreline out.

“But it didn’t feel like it was reflective of how tough it was out there.”

With plenty of planning going into building on-court connections, Rymer, a dual A-grade premiership coach with Gisborne, was pleased to see them pay dividends.

“It certainly did help having had some of the girls play together before; it made it nice and easy,” she said.

“I knew that the 10 players we picked to be part of interleague could all do the job and provided something different.

“We had the option of a nice holding circle, or we could flip to a moving circle if we needed to.

“It was nice to back all those combinations.

“With our midcourt, we wanted to keep fresh legs out there at all times.”

Rymer said ‘you could not go past’ Barkmeyer as the standout player on court, with the classy goaler showing the benefits of her time spent at the elite level.

Her Roos teammate and the team’s captain Chelsea Sartori led from the front, Gisborne’s Charlee Kemp was at her menacing best in defence, while Richards was invincible, particularly during a 23-12 second quarter from the BFNL.

Having not played an interleague game in eight years and even missing last year’s Association Championships, Rymer was thrilled to see the BFNL enhance its reputation at representative level.

 

“We know we have so much talent in our league – everyone says it,” she said.

“When you come and watch the BFNL, it’s such a strong competition.

“It was good for us to showcase the talent we have. Every player contributed in a positive way.

“I feel we have generated some excitement with interleague this year.

“Chelsea and Ruby (captain and vice-captain) did a great job championing it and showing the importance of it to the playing group.

“I know I’ve always wanted to coach interleague. It’s great looking at all these players you spend most of your season trying to combat on Saturdays and watching them come together as our team.”

Ovens and Murray co-coach Jodie House paid full credit to a ‘tough and accomplished’ BFNL.

“We came here knowing they were a quality outfit. We’d done our homework on their players and certainly knew their strengths and experience, so it was always going to be tough ask,” she said.

“Our girls had two sessions together and had a handful of players who had never open (netball) for the league before, so for us it was about building the program again and having players really excited to come and represent the league.

“Things ebbed and flowed for us throughout the game and we had different players come in and out of the game.

“That was likely due to the pressure put on us and being challenged like that.

“But at the end of the day, you just can’t take anything away from Bendigo, they are just a quality outfit.”

The O&M’s cause was dealt a blow with the loss of key defender Eliza Mooney in the lead-up to the game due to restrictions placed on her by her VNL club Bendigo Strikers.

Her presence would undoubtedly have solidified their defence and made life tougher for Richards, Barkmeyer and third-option Abbey Ryan.

Wodonga Raiders midcourter Maggie St John was O&M’s standout player at wing attack.