Netball: Royal focus for Blues’ defence

Netball: Royal focus for Blues’ defence

Winchelsea netballer Meg Royal is no stranger to the big occasions.

The Blues’ dynamic ball winner was the catalyst of her side’s 17&U premiership in 2013 before taking out the best on court medal in last year’s AFL Victoria WorkSafe game of the month.

Add the prestigious Megan Dean medal in 2013 (17&U league best and fairest) to her handful of club awards and it’s fair to say she’s left a mark on the club across six years of A-Grade netball.

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Therefore a short turnaround will not be enough to dampen her excitement of adding ANZAC Day honours to this long list of achievements tomorrow when Winchelsea travel to Bannockburn.

“This will be a good opportunity and hopefully we can continue playing on ANZAC Day in the future,” Royal said.

“Obviously the four day turnaround isn’t ideal but we’re looking forward to the challenge of Bannockburn and we’re hoping to get those four points on the board.”

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The Blues were pipped 44 to 43 against Geelong West before returning home only to again walk off the court empty handed against Anakie and reigning premier Thomson under lights.

However the final 52 to 37 score line on Saturday would be Thomson’s lowest score in their tightest of three straight opening wins.

“We had really good patches of play against Thomson but we also had the odd minute (or two) lapse in each quarter so I think our best is still to come,” she added.

“That margin is really nothing when you look at it and I’m happy to say that we’re looking forward to meeting Thomson again in Round 14.”

The 11th placed Blues will also enter this clash against seventh placed Bannockburn with confidence as the third highest scoring side behind Thomson and East Geelong.

“Our attack sort of just comes out such has been our focus the last two years (under coach Kendall Carracher) on our defence,” she said.

“We’re still trying to iron out our combinations and working out what works and what doesn’t but Kierlie Shepherd has helped boost the confidence of our younger defenders.”

Royal and Carracher would go onto poll 23 of Winchelsea’s 42 Margaret Webb medal votes last year before prominent shooter Eliza Cole would storm home in the club best and fairest.

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Yet the 21-year-old has predicted 2011 & 2013 Webb medallist Casey Carroll (former Bell Post Hill) as the one to watch from the game’s 2.45pm start to finish.

Winchelsea will have a fitness session tonight ahead of tomorrow’s game before then facing North Geelong, Werribee, Belmont (away) and Bell Post Hill.

By Alex Tigani
GDFNL Media (24/04/2018)

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