“Frustrating”. That’s how Lancefield netball coach Alan Watson describes his side’s first half-season in the Riddell District Netball League.
With a squad full of talent, Watson believed, pre-season, that his side would be in the mix at the top.
But while keeping faith with the talent, getting all of it on court at the same time has been an issue all year.
“We haven’t had the whole squad for a match yet,” Watson said last week.
“It’s hard having to bring in five players every week. Sometimes they don’t know each other, let alone having played together, which makes it hard.
“Our strongest players have been missing against the top sides.
“Against Macedon we had six players out, and we had several players out against Rupertswood and Romsey.“
Missing players have cost the Tigers dearly, and the side has fallen short against all of the top teams: a 0-5 record against sides in the top six.
On Saturday, they slipped out of the top six after losing to Melton Centrals.
Centrals took control of the game early and extended their lead at every break to win 42-35.
Defender Olivia Pels was best for the Tigers in the loss, and Savaii Williams was best of the goalers, shooting 22.
Watson says he hopes the match against Centrals will be the last time the Tigers are without such a big group of players.
With the likelihood of a full or close to full-strength squad to select from in coming weeks, Watson says finals are still the goal.
The Tigers played finals last season for the first time in many years.
“I think we can cause upsets on the way home,” he said. “I hope we can win enough games to make finals and show what we can do.”
The Tigers’ biggest challenge comes this week when they take on 2015 premiers Riddell.
“We should nearly have our whole side back,” Watson said.
Elsewhere at the weekend, there was an upset and three big wins.
Diggers Rest upset Macedon to move into the top six, while Romsey, Riddell and Rupertswood all broke the 100-goal barrier to record easy wins over Wallan, Sunbury Kangaroos and Woodend-Hesket respectively.
