Pink Panthers’ season encouraging for all netballers

IT was not quite a fairytale ending, but for eight young Pink Panthers players, their first season together in the Bacchus Marsh Netball Association was still nothing short of inspiring.

After riding a wave momentum late in the autumn season, Pink Panthers played off in last Monday’s section three juniors grand final against Darley Little Devils.

While the unbeaten Little Devils took the title with a three-goal win, the Panthers won the hearts of many with a brave and surprising performance in their first season of competition.

The team – coached by BMNA NetSetGo coordinator Liz Bamford – comprised five girls from St Bernard’s Primary School in Bacchus Marsh and three from Darley Primary School.

They included Isla Hanniver, Ruby Banitsiotis, Stephanie Pilmore, Teuila Turley, Alora Pell, Talisha Turley, Harper Lubinsky and Montie O’Leary, with Ms Bamford’s son Jay as assistant coach.

Formed almost overnight, Pink Panthers endured some early bumps, despite nothing but fun times.

“A friend of mine’s daughter wanted to play netball, so she and her friends put a team together. But they didn’t have a coach,” Ms Bamford said.

“Another coach was going to do it, but she already had three teams to look after.

“I went and watched the first game but ended up coaching them.

“We didn’t win a game until about round six (in a 13-game season), so to end up in a grand final in the girls’ first year of netball was amazing.”

Ms Bamford could not have been prouder of her girls after giving the Little Devils a real fright by leading at all three changes of end.

“They had thrashed us every time we had played them during the season,” she said. “To be in front of them during the grand final was so exciting.

“Even the team we beat in the preliminary final we hadn’t beaten all year.”

Ms Bamford praised the BMNA for making the grand final an occasion all players on both sides would not forget in a hurry.

“They put balloons up to run through, and they announced the girls onto the court, a bit like Suncorp Super Netball,” she said.

“It really made the girls excited and happy. It was such a wonderful thing they do for them.”

An even bigger thrill for the Panthers was a special pre-game video message for them from star Melbourne Vixens and Australian Diamonds goaler Kiera Austin, organised by their coach.

As their bold showing proved, the girls heeded Austin’s advice on not being overawed by the occasion.

“Congratulations for making a grand final in your first ever season of playing netball,” she said.

“You hadn’t played with each other until 13 weeks ago, so to make a grand final experience is just such an epic achievement and something you should all be so, so proud of.

“Grand finals are very hard to come by, so don’t let the occasion overwhelm anyone.

“Don’t worry about the outcome, focus on the process. Really strong drives from passes, encouraging each other and getting around each other the whole time.”

Ms Bamford hoped sharing the Pink Panthers’ feel-good story would encourage more young girls and boys to take up netball, starting with the NetSetGo program.

“It’s great to see the young aspiring netballers out there having fun – and it’s relatively inexpensive too,” she said.

“Sport can cost a fortune, but NetSetGo is a great activity to do with their friends.

“It’s open to boys as well. We’d love to get some boys involved.

For more details on NetSetGo, visit bmna.com.au. More sport from page 21.