Tara Murray
Melton is slowly building into the Ballarat Netball League season.
After a slow start with a new side, the Bloods are showing that they will be no easy beats this season.
After managing to get their first win of the season in round five against Ballarat, the Bloods were again in the mix on Saturday against East Point.
While East Point got the win 51-43, the margin has decreased from what it was last season.
Speaking before the weekend’s game, Bloods coach Nichole Gleeson said she was thrilled with the signs they are starting to show.
“To be honest, we didn’t have the best start to the season,” she said. “I think we have a new side and expectations and things around round one and things didn’t go how we wanted to.
“The girls have turned it around and we have played some strong sides.
“It’s a great testament to how they are progressing and looking at the games from last year and score differences to this year.
“I’m really pleased.”
Gleeson said the side was still building and would get better as the season goes along.
She said they were playing the way that they wanted to and they were taking plenty of learnings out of all their matches.
“The scores are close and what we want to do is continue that and really make other sides work for wins,” she said.
“Every week we are prepared and we’ve getting better. It’s credit to the girls how quickly they are coming together as a side.
“As a coach I’m super proud with seeing what the girls can put out on the court.”
Gleeson said they are keen to get a few more wins on the board as they progress throughout the season.
She said there was a real positive attitude among the playing group and they were hungry to get better.
“There’s opportunities to progress on the ladder and hopefully we’re around the mark at the pointy end of the year.”
Overall, Gleeson said they were seeing some good signs across all their grades despite a few injuries.
On Saturday against East Point, the Bloods wore a special Indigenous dress designed by footballers Max and Chase Scoble, who are both Yorta Yorta men.
Kim Phillips shot 32 goals for the Bloods in the loss.
In other netball results on Saturday, Darley remains undefeated after beating the Sunbury Lions.
In the top of the table clash, the Devils won 44-40.
Melton South moved to second on the ladder with a 62-24 win against Bacchus Marsh.
