Discipline and success key for Heal and Venom

GEELONG Venom star recruit Shyla Heal said discipline would be a main focus for the group as she prepared for her home debut this Sunday, December 7 at the Geelong Arena.

The Venom have dropped their past two matches in overtime thrillers, with costly lapses late in the game undoing otherwise impressive performances.

They now have a chance to bounce back in a weekend double-header that will see them play Bendigo in Ballarat before returning home to face the UC Capitals.

Heal told this newspaper that routine and sticking to the game plan had been a focal point at training during the week.

“As a team, we just haven’t been disciplined, that’s our whole thing that we’ve been talking about at training.

“We haven’t been sticking to scout, we haven’t been offensively getting through our sets and when it comes down to the wire, we’ve just been making silly decisions.

“For us right now, it’s all about being disciplined so when we’re in that situation next time, hopefully we can follow through and get the win.”

Heal is personally enjoying being back on the court after returning from a knee injury in late November.

“It had been five and a half months that I had been on the sidelines,” she said.

“So it was nice just to finally get out there and feel a part of the team and play with the girls, play under Chris, so that part was nice.”

In her first two matches back, the 24-year-old had 16 and 15 points on restricted minutes and shot 19/19 from the free throw line.

Yet she admitted that she won’t feel back at her best for at least another month.

“I wouldn’t say I have my groove back, it’s going to take me a little bit,” she said.

“I’m a player that’s very skills-based and needs a lot of reps, so it’s going to take me another three, four weeks until I’m actually feeling like I have a bit more groove again.

“I’m still doing a lot of strength work in the gym, trying to get my explosiveness back, but that’s also going to take time, so not quite yet.”

Ahead of her home debut for the Venom, Heal expressed her excitement and made her priority clear – winning.

“I feel like we had so many home games at the start of the season and sitting on the sidelines watching it and seeing the fans kind of made me a bit jealous, so now I’m really excited to finally get in there and play in front of everyone,” she said.

“But hopefully, and the main thing is, that we can get a win for the fans.”