The young brigade is leading the way for Romsey in the Riddell District Netball League.
The Redbacks have one of the youngest lines up in the competition, but it hasn’t stopped them from providing some upsets.
After ?? rounds, the Redbacks sit in sixth spot and are well and truly in finals contention.
Redbacks coach Justin Philby, in his first year, said he was pretty happy with how it was going this season.
“We’re settling in with a young group up there and we’re exactly where we want to be,” he said.
“It sets us up for a strong season.”
The Redbacks have blooded some young players in recent years and have added more to the mix this season.
Woodend-Hesket premiership player Brooklyn Christy Leahy, and Melton South’s Amelia Cini are both in their early 20s and added a bit of experience.
Philby said their main focus is on wanting to have local talent and being able to build around them.
“There have been some ups and downs,” he said. “It’s always a challenge to do the job week in, week out.”
Leading the way is rising short Charlize Bellette. The teenager, who just turned 17, is part of Mavericks SN reserves squad and recently made her debut at that level.
“She is doing really well,” Philby said. “She has been injecting that information from the higher level quickly to help the feeding in the attacking end.”
Philby said Abbie Conway, who had joined the side in recent weeks, had also impressed him in taking on that wing defence position.
Josie Lepore in defence is another who is taking it up to some really experienced netballers.
Speaking ahead of the side’s match with Riddell, Philby said it was an important match for them as they tried to upset a team above them on the ladder.
He said they wanted to bounce the rest of the season off that match.
Unfortunately for the Redbacks it was a tough day out against the Bombers winning 70-43.
After leading by five goals at quarter time, the Bombers continued to grow the lead and finished with 23 goals in the final quarter.
Bellette shot 24 goals for the Redbacks.
Bec Colwell shot 40 goals for the Bombers.
In other matches, Gisborne Giants got their biggest win of the season as they beat Macedon, 44-42.
Kyneton got the win against Diggers Rest, 50-33, Woodend-Hesket defeated Wallan, 49-40 and Melton Centrals won the local derby, 61-23.
