Injury-ravaged Melton Centrals have vowed to fight on in the Riddell District Netball League.
Last year’s premiers haven’t been able to take a trick since round one, with a different line-up greeting head coach Randy Pereira each week.
Centrals have lost goal combination Renee Hulls and Shelby Brady for the rest of the season while, from last year’s premiership side, Rebecca Wilson and Rebecca Morabito are both taking a year off.
Consequently, the Centrals are in unfamiliar territory: in seventh place on the ladder with just four wins.
“We haven’t had one game with a full team yet,” Pereira said.
“It’s been pretty disappointing from that point of view, but at the end of the day you can only play with the cards you’re dealt.”
While the constant changing of line-ups has severely dented the club’s hopes of back-to-back flags, Pereira is full of praise for the way his group has tackled the challenges.
Experienced mid-courter Tran Truong has been in outstanding form as a player and a leader, helping guide the next generation of Centrals players now stepping up.
Melton has shown flashes of its previous dominating form, smashing both Sunbury and Kilmore last month.
The Centrals also accounted for fifth-placed Romsey at the weekend by six goals.
Pereira’s aim is to finish in the top six, where he hopes the club’s finals experience will shine through.
“If we can get some personnel back, we might be able to sneak into the six,” he said.
“A lot can happen before September and things do change. It’s a different ball game in finals.
“The kids we are bringing in are stepping up and playing consistently good netball.
“I said to the girls, if we can get our act together in the second half of the season, you never know what can happen.”
