MINYIP-MURTOA have came agonisingly close to A Grade glory in the Wimmera Netball Association in 2017 and coach Claire Drum is confident her side can be among the top teams again in 2018.
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The side lost last season’s grand final by just one goal against the Horsham Saints and will look to continue developing as a team in order to give itself the best chance of going one better.
“We’ll be looking to strengthen team attributes primarily and continue to develop individuals to strength everyone to their potential,” Drum said.
“I think our styl” will continue to develop and evolve as we spend more time together in order to strengthen team connections on court and overall balance with all combinations used.”
2016 Hatcher medallist Stevie Bibby will be a big loss for the side in defence while Georgia McLennan has joined the club after winning a premiership with Kangaroo Flats in Ballarat Football Netball league in 2017.
“I look forward to her hitting the court,” Drum said. “She’s fitted into the squad well and provides us with great options.”
Drum divided herself between coaching the A and B Grade Burras side last season and is looking forward to being able to concentrate on just one side this season.
“I’m really looking forward to being able to give my girls a hard time because they’ll have my full attention,” she said. “I have a great senior coaching team to work with after Kate Cameron took over B Grade and Shana Miatke is in charge of C Grade. They have really added to our preseason and are great to work with.”
Q and A with Claire Drum
Has anyone been particularly impressive on court so far?
Yes and no, we haven’t split into teams as yet and we’re still training as squad. We’ll spend more time looking at who and where. There have certainly been impressive players but we are still looking at what levels we are working with – you can be impressive for C Grade or A Grade or B Grade.
Are there any young players coming through that will take a step up this season?
There have been a couple that have come out of 17 and unders, as has Maddi Morgan who was already playing A Grade. It remains to be seen a bit in terms of where they all fit. We’ve also got a couple of older players coming who also have another year or tow under there belts potentially playing other sports. It will be interesting to see where everyone fits because they were here as 17s last as well.
Have you heard much about what is happening at other clubs?
You hear bits and pieces but we’ll see them on court. We have to concentrate on our own game early on; its’s about getting you own game together and only keeping a little bit of an eye on what everyone else does.