By Michael Scalzo

Kalkee enters this finals series as the minor premier, and outright minor premier in terms of games won. 

A 14 win and two loss record is a convincing season and a home-and-away result seven spots better than in 2021. 

The Kees have jumped half the league in 16 games of competition and are primed to take the challenge to reigning premiers Laharum. 

But it will not just be Laharum the Kees have on their tail, with Edenhope-Apsley and Noradjuha-Quantong completing the season one win behind them. 

It took until round seven for the Kees to register their first loss of the season, against Noradjuha-Quantong, on their home courts.

The 13-point loss accompanied the Kees’ largest score against them for the year – the Bombers’ 58 goals were an outlier for a strong Kees defence that regularly kept opposition below 10 goals a quarter. 

Importantly the Kees climbed over the top of the Demons at Cameron Reserve in round six to establish themselves as serious 2022 challengers, coming back from a two-goal deficit at three-quarter time to clinch their six-goal victory. 

The competition took notice after that. 

Perhaps they should have beforehand, when the Kees dealt an eight-goal loss to Edenhope-Apsley – one of the competition’s late-season bloomers and third-place takers. 

The experience of Paula Weidermann, who returned to her home club as A Grade netball coach at the end of last season after a stint at Horsham Demons, might prove to be a valuable grab. 

A scrapping victory against Swifts at North Park in round eight surely gave the Kees’ faithful a scare, with that two-goal win now as valuable as ever; as was their two-goal win against Kaniva-Leeor United. These are two opposition teams that will not feature in this finals series. 

The Kees will be, however, the team that has played the least netball all season, with Rupanyup in round three and Jeparit-Rainbow in round five forfeiting games, and two not played scheduled games against an absent A Grade Taylors Lake side, the last of those being just last week.  

Will that mean rested netballers who have enjoyed the week off before finals or netballers wishing they had more games in their legs before the heat turns up?

Weidermann, before the season started, said she was excited to return to Kalkee and from afar she always knew the A Grade squad could play some great netball. 

“This year will be about reaching finals. Finals and success – it’s the reason we play. We will be building towards that this year and work on gelling as a team before we hit the court,” she said pre-season. 

Well, the team has certainly gelled well, and with only the Bombers causing the Kees grief so far in 2022, other sides might be looking at how the Bombers got it done. 

The Kees will get things started against Laharum in the second week of finals at Balmoral in the second semi-final.

Players to watch

Jenna Bywaters

Has been a consistent shooter for the Kees this season, working hard at the goal end. Her height is a beneficial addition inside the ring. 

 

 Katie Ruwoldt

A reliable defender and a player her teammates will look to in the defensive third. Her pressure over the ball will be key in her team gaining turnovers.

Kalkee’s road to the finals

Coach: Paula Weidermann

 

Round 1: W. 46 d Kaniva-Leeor United 23. Away.

Round 2: W. 46 d Harrow-Balmoral 24. Home.

Round 3: W. 40 d Rupanyup (forfeit). Home. 

Round 4: W. 35 d Edenhope-Apsley 27. Away.

Round 5: W. 40 d Jeparit-Rainbow (forfeit). 

Round 6: W. 43 d Laharum 37. Away. 

Round 7: L. 45 to Noradjuha-Quantong 58. Home.

Round 8: W. 36 d Swifts 34. Away.

Round 9: W. 52 d Natimuk United 31. Away.

Round 10: W. 66 d Pimpinio 40. Home.*

Round 11: W. d Taylors Lake (no game).

Round 12: W. 45 d Kaniva-Leeor United 43. Home.

Round 13: W. 50 d Harrow-Balmoral 44. Away.

Round 14: W. 54 d Natimuk United 25. Home.

Round 15: L. 28 to Noradjuha-Quantong 32. Away.**

Round 16: W. d Talylors Lake (no game).

* Highest score ** Lowest score
Total: Won: 14. Lost: 2. For: 676. Against: 420. Points: 16. Percentage: 160.95.

The entire August 17, 2022 edition of The Weekly Advertiser is available online. READ IT HERE!