A tough Round 1 initiation hasn’t dampened Hawks Netball’s 2022 Victorian Netball League aspirations, goal shooter and new recruit Kaylia Stanton says.
The Hawks faced the toughest of tests in their first game of the season, coming up against the competition’s most recent premiers, Geelong Cougars.
While the Hawks took it up to Geelong early in the contest and sat within two goals at half-time, a 20-4 third-quarter blitz saw the Cougars run away with a comfortable 71-34 win.
Stanton, suiting up for the first game for the club after playing with the Melbourne Vixens in 2021, said the result wasn’t reflective of the team’s best netball and or the strong performances the squad had shown during preseason.
“Whilst we didn’t have the performance we wanted last week, it was great to be back out on court after two years of stop/start netball,” Stanton said.
“There were definitely a few nervous players and some uncharacteristic errors, which I think affected our ability to play our best netball.”
The opportunity to make a statement about what their best netball looks like arrives quickly for the Hawks in Round 2, where they’ll face perennial Championship division top four side Melbourne Uni Lightning.
The Lightning comfortably accounted for Boroondara Express in Round 1, but Stanton said she was confident her team would be much improved.
“We reflected on our Round 1 performance at training and are looking to bounce back from it this week,” she said.
Stanton said the developing Hawks group presented huge opportunities for growth, both as a team and also in her own game.
“Personally I had an absolute blast (last week). Being back out playing netball again, in a team I love, was so much fun,” she said.
“I’m really loving my netball at the moment and I just want to keep getting better and better each opportunity I have to take the court.”
The Hawks take on Melbourne Uni Lightning on Court 1 at the State Netball Centre at 7pm on Wednesday, March 23.
The Championship game will be LIVE STREAMED on Hawks Netball’s Facebook page.
7pm – Championship – LIVE STREAM
8.20pm – Division 1
9.40pm – 19/Under