Diggers Rest Netball Club is looking to build on last year’s finals berth in the upcoming Riddell District Netball League.
The Burras snuck into the 2014 finals after a draw against Rupertswood in the final round of the season.
Despite losing in the first week to the eventual premiers Melton Centrals, making the finals was massive for Diggers Rest.
Picture gallery: Diggers Rest v Melton Centrals 2014 elimination final
New coach Amy Carroll said team members now want to focus their attention on making finals over the next few years.
Carroll, who was named goal attack in the RDNL team of the year, said she was excited by the new coaching challenge.
“Our A-grade coach Mel Lofts stepped down and a few of the girls asked me to take on the role.
“I said I didn’t mind doing it. I have done netball clinics before, but I’ve done no specific coaching.
“Sarah [Carroll], my sister-in-law, is coaching the B-grade side and Courtney Sherwell is coaching the C-grade and under-18 sides. We are all working together.”
Unlike a lot of teams, the Burras didn’t start training until after Christmas. They held their first session last week.
“We did trials in December and decided to wait and start again on Tuesday,” Carroll said.
“All the girls have had programs over Christmas and have come back pretty fit. We have two months to get up to standard.”
Carroll said a couple of players had been added to the A-grade side from last year.
She said the team was looking to get off to a better start than last season and build on what the club had achieved.
“We have some tough games to start the season, so they may be a bit hard.
“We’d like not to leave it up to the last round to make finals, if possible.
“We had not played well at the start of the [last] season … it just clicked in the end and it was a big surprise to make finals.
“It’s a great feeling and we want to at least achieve that again.
“The next few years, the club is only going to get stronger and, hopefully in a couple of years, look at trying to reach grand finals.”
