By LIAM TWOMEY
CITY West Falcons are in prime position to win their third consecutive Victorian Netball League Championships after a flawless first half of the season.
The Falcons have smashed their rivals and sit on top of the ladder with a perfect 8-0 win/loss record.
City West coach Marg Lind was rapt with her side’s start to the season and admitted the perfect record was unexpected.
“I think a good indicator was that we played the (Melbourne) Vixens a couple of times in the pre-season and did quite well,” Lind said.
“That was an indicator that we certainly had some depth.
“To predict that we were going to be here 8-0, maybe not. It is nice but I’m not sure it is something we necessarily expected.”
To highlight City West’s dominance, only once this season has its winning margin been kept to single digits.
That was in round eight when Western Suburbs rival VU Western Lightning lost by nine.
“I think the three areas (shooters, mid-court and defence) have held well together,” Lind said.
“The defenders have been exceptional.
“I think Clare (Moylan) and Maggie (Lind) as a mid-court combination have benefited from not having had to go off the court very often. We don’t have big numbers in the team and they have developed through on going court time and we are able to mix them up in two different positions.
“The goalers have worked very well. In the past we have had a tall post in shooter and a more dynamic goal attack which has won us a lot of premierships. This year we have got that plus two dynamic goalers that we can put together as well.”
When round nine of the VNL season gets underway this weekend, the Falcons will be red hot favourites to extend their winning streak to nine when they take on bottom of the ladder, Fed Uni Ballarat Pride.
City West is two games clear on top of the VNL ladder with Boroondara Genesis in second spot.
Lind said her overall goal for the season of adding another premiership to the club’s collection hadn’t changed.
“We always want to win,” she said.
“From the start of the season that was our goal. We want to win the premiership. You re-assess every three of four weeks depending on the ladder and your challenges but I’d be lying if I said we weren’t aiming for a premiership. That is certainly our goal.”
