Whittlesea has achieved its first aim of the Northern Netball League season by staying in the top division after the grading period.
After the opening four grading games, the Eagles number one side had a 2-2 record, good enough to stay in division one.
Coach Loren Weekes said it had been a difficult start to the season.
“We had a lack of practice matches which didn’t help,” she said. “We normally play two or three games, so it has taken a bit longer to get working together.
“We’re starting to gel together on court in most areas, but one week we break down in one area, the next week in another area.”
The Eagles start to the season hasn’t been helped by a couple of injuries.
“We’ve gone from nine players in the side to eight,” Weekes said.
“Drew White, who has come up from last year’s second side, hurt her knee and needs a knee reconstruction.
“Casey Barnes, who played goals for us last year, has a wrist injury which is affecting her accuracy, so we’ve moved her back into defence.
“We’d love to get a gun goal shooter but we’re lucky the girls we have can play multiple positions well.”
Weekes, who is in her first year of coaching after playing in the team last year, said a finals finish was the aim.
“We had a discussion about staying in section one or requesting to go down a section and the girls said they’d rather stick it out,” she said.
“It’s going to be difficult with only eight players, but we have a talented side.”
Weekes said with grading sorted out, it would give a clearer indication of where the other three teams are at.
The club’s second side is a whole new team and plays in section three.
The third team, last year’s second team, is playing in section four and the fourth team is playing in section seven.
For the first time, all teams have non-playing coaches.
On Friday night, the Eagles 1 side lost 57-31 to Lakeside, Whittlesea 2 beat Thomastown 43-28, the third side won 38-34 against Lalor and Whittlesea 4 lost 29-22 to Epping 2.
