Strikers young guns growing in stature

THE Strikers 23-and-unders have continued to position themselves nicely for another finals run with a 19-goal win over Southern Saints last Sunday at Mercy Junortoun Sporting Precinct.

Powered by another imposing shooting performance by Jorja Clode, who finished with 39 goals at 85 per cent, the Strikers defeated the Saints 67-48.

The foundations were laid in a 24-11 opening term, with the Strikers going on to outscore the Saints in all but the second quarter, which the visitors won 14-11.

A commanding win catapulted the Strikers into second place on the ladder, level on four wins and one loss with top side North East Blaze.

With her side riding a three-game winning streak, coach Fiona Boyer praised a mature and even team performance on Sunday, underpinned by a wealth of versatility.

“We got to try a lot of combinations, which we haven’t been afforded every week,” she said.

“It was great to see the way the girls responded coming off the bench; there was depth in each of the girls’ games.

“We had a lot of girls coming on and off the court, which they don’t normally do, and a lot of girls playing new roles.

“But the response from the girls to that was, as always, first-class.”

Few were prouder than Boyer to see the team’s reigning best and fairest Eliza Mooney and fellow vice-captain Asha Gray make their championship debuts on Sunday, after playing starring roles earlier in the day in the 23-and-unders’ win.

Boyer put her team’s bright early season form down to one key characteristic – camaraderie.

 

“They back each other and they’re not afraid of who they are playing with or against, or what’s asked of them,” she said.

“It’s exciting to know that you can always challenge them to do more, or challenge them to do something different.

“To their credit, they actually want to do it. The buy-in has been unbelievable.”

Clode’s 39-goal haul pushed her season average out to 35.7 goals per game.

She was well supported by Ella Kerlin (19 goals at 90.48 per cent) and Sophie Garner (seven at 100 per cent) in her short cameo in goals in the third and fourth quarters.

Clode believed the Strikers’ 4-1 record reflected their faith in team structures and trust in one another.

“We have really good communication; we are talking to each other on the court about what’s working and what’s not and we’re also very adaptable mid-quarter,” she said.

“If we have a few balls that turn over, we’re very quick to talk to each other about what we need to do.

“We have an open trust, where it’s not criticism, it’s more try this and see if that works and gets us the ball better.”

Meanwhile, Strikers VNL reserves coach Jody Richards is hopeful her side can continue building on the momentum they have generated across the last few weeks as the season approaches the halfway point.

With a logjam developing at the top of the ladder, the Strikers maintained contact with the competition’s upper-echelon with a 47-39 win over the Saints.

The team’s fifth win has them handily placed in fourth spot on the ladder, equal with third-placed Hawks and fifth-placed Melbourne University Lightning on 5-1-1.

Their last five games have produced four wins and a draw against the Lightning. An eight-goal victory over the Saints set the tone for a successful day for the club, with all three teams gaining wins.

Richards identified team spirit as the key to the development squad’s success so far this season.

“All the girls are getting on well on and off the court and it’s just a really good group of girls,” she said.

“(The program) has really evolved from just being a training squad and picking a squad and having (some) games, to now being a team and getting them on court every week.

“It’s a real progression and great for the (Strikers catchment) area to have that.

“A lot of the girls are Bendigo based, but we are drawing from Echuca and Shepparton and all over.

“It’s really great for the region.”