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<\/p>\n
\u201cI started in under-17s with Loz as my coach and obviously she coached me at White Hills as well.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo come back under Jayden (current A-grade coach Jayden Cowling), the last six years has been fantastic.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe don\u2019t have a high turnover of girls, so we\u2019re pretty good friends as well, which makes it really enjoyable.\u201d<\/p>\n
That Deary has played in some ultra-strong or even powerhouse teams cannot disguise her immense value to the team, underpinned by steely determination, versatility and willingness to sacrifice her own attacking instincts to play a role.<\/p>\n
While she has featured in only two A-grade games this season, she would be a starter in some and a part of the rotation in many other BFNL teams.<\/p>\n
After playing in four previous losing grand finals for the Roos, Deary achieved the ultimate in team sport last season, with A-reserve premiership success against Sandhurst.<\/p>\n
A big day for the green and white faithful continued when later on the Roos won their first A-grade premiership in nine years, also against the Dragons.<\/p>\n
Deary believed it was a culture of shared success that made those accomplishments even more special.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause A-grade and A-res train together, we kind of feel like it\u2019s all one achievement,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt would be nice to go back-to-back again.\u201d<\/p>\n
The A-reserve Roos, coached by Cowling and A-grade midcourter Ash Ryan, are again well placed to be there when the whips are cracking later in the season, currently second on the ladder at 8-1-1, half-a-win behind South Bendigo (9-1) in what is the most competitive and open of the league\u2019s five netball competitions.<\/p>\n
While the competitive juices in her are flowing as freely as ever, it\u2019s the camaraderie and enjoyment that have Deary loving being around netball and the club as much as the day she first pulled on a green and white dress as a 14-year-old.<\/p>\n
\u201cTuesday and Thursday nights are getting colder though with age,\u201d she laughed.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut the social side as much as anything gets you back \u2013 just running around with your friends and making some good memories.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s what you play for as much as anything \u2013 and maybe a flag along the way.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
FOR Kangaroo Flat defender Bronte Deary, coming back and playing her 200th game at the club where her netball career began makes the milestone feel even more special. Deary, who turned 30 in April this year and reached the double century in green and white in last Saturday\u2019s A-reserve clash against Eaglehawk, would have reached […]<\/p>\n