Finals destiny in own hands for youngest Strikers

BENDIGO Strikers VNL Reserves coach Jody Richards says the team finals hopes are in its own hands.

The young Strikers will return to action this Tuesday night 16 June at the State Netball Centre needing to win at least one, or potentially two, of its final home and away games against Hawks and North East Blaze.

A win over Hawks, currently sitting inside the top four, will keep the fifth-placed Strikers’ finals hopes flickering into their final game the following Tuesday against the Blaze.

Their chances have not been helped by a lopsided draw in which teams play either six or seven of their 10 rival teams twice, and some, including the Strikers, having two byes compared to others with one.

No points are allocated for a bye.

While this week’s bye could not have come at a worse time, Richards said the Strikers, whose record stands at 7-5-2 after a 56-51 win over Southern Saints on 2 June, could be proud of their season to date and still being a live finals chance late in the season.

“When we play well, we can match it with anyone,” she said.

“But it’s the same across the league, even though Saints are down the bottom, they gave us a really good contest.

“It’s anyone game each week.”

Illustrating just how close the development competition has been this season, the Strikers could well have already been sitting pretty in terms of finals if not for a pair of draws against Melbourne University Lightning earlier in the season and Western Warriors.

In fact, their last five games have delivered a five-goal win over Saints, a nine-goal loss to Gippsland Stars, a one-goal defeat against Peninsula Waves, a draw with the Warriors and a three-goal loss to Casey Demons.

“Those draws and close losses have been tough, but we’ve got to take our opportunities, take the game on and be assertive,” Richards said.

“The (Gippsland) loss was nine goals and probably our biggest margin, which is not a big margin.

“I looked across that round and the biggest margin in any game was 11 goals, so there doesn’t tend to be massive blow outs and there are a lot of tight games and draws.

“No doubt things will have to fall our way a bit to play finals, but we’ll be working hard for it and will give it our all.”

Reflecting both the nature of a development or feeder competition and a bright future for the Strikers, Richards has used 19 players so far this season in a major positive.

“To start the season we had a few of the 23-and-under girls getting court time, which was great for them,” she said.

“And we’ve had our emerging squad players come in and help us out when we have had injuries and unavailability.

“Those girls in the emerging program have really stepped up.

 

“At the moment, Juliet Hogan has played the last five games to qualify for us and she is making such a difference in the midcourt.

“Her height and strength have really helped us out.”

Consistent in defence throughout the season, Gabby Moore made her 23-and-under debut in the 3 June game against Saints and will likely be qualified for finals.

Vice-captain Rose Byrne is another to have stepped up to the 23s, making two appearances, and has been a standout in the goal circle.

The team has been well led by second-year player and midcourter Neve Pinner, while another returning player from last year’s inaugural VNL Reserves team Keira Lawry has been the team’s rock in defence.

The spirit among the group has been buoyed by the achievements of the team’s assistant coach, two-time Strikers championship best and fairest and Melbourne Mavericks defender Charlotte Sexton.

In the space of six months, Sexton has gone from Mavs training partner to 11th player, to permanent replacement player in the Mavs’ match day squad of 10, before landing in the extended Australian Diamonds squad as a training invitee two weeks ago.

“We are all very excited seeing her as an invitee to the Australian camp. It’s good that the girls can see the progression that is possible through a club like Strikers,” Richards said.

“Charlotte gives a lot of herself to the group during the games.

“It has helped her understand the game better having that coaches hat on.”