City West Falcons allayed fears of a premiership hangover by totally dismantling local rivals VU-Western Lightning in the Victorian Netball League championship season opener at the State Netball Hockey Centre on Wednesday night.
The Falcons burst to an eight-goal lead by quarter time and just kept increasing it in a ruthless 52-34 win.
PICTURE GALLERY: City West Falcons v VU-Western Lightning
Upbeat Falcons assistant coach Nicole Richardson was impressed by the performance so early in the season.
“To come up against VU in the first round – they’re really tough opposition – so to put in four quarters like the girls did was great to see,” she told the Weekly.
“We came out of the blocks firing, which is pleasing because we’ve started slowly against VU in the past.
“It was a focus point for the team and that basically set up the match.”
Rookie Alice Teague-Neeld was a selection surprise after first choice goalshooter Kath Knott was a late withdrawal with a hamstring injury.
Teague-Neeld made the most of her first championship start with a stellar game in the attacking circle.
The teenager shot the lights out with 27 from 28 for a 97 per cent return against one of the best defensive combinations in the VNL.
“For a first-up performance at that level, she did a great job,” Richardson said.
“She missed only one goal against what I would classify as the toughest defensive combinations in the competition in Fiona Themann and Brooke Thompson.
“She offered a bit of speed for us and caused a bit of havoc for their circle defenders.”
The Falcons missed only three shots all night, with last year’s championship-winning goaler, Julia Knott, scorching with 25 from 27 for 93 per cent.
That might create a selection headache for tonight’s second-round game with Kath Knott scheduled to return.
“Hopefully she’ll be right to go,” Richardson said.
The Falcons mid-court ran smoothly on night one with Maggie Lind thriving on her new wing attack role alongside centre Liz Watson.
Casey Price was the stand-out defender for the Falcons, but the Lightning’s front line resembled nothing like the one that made it to the preliminary final last season and is still a work in progress.
“That was their first hit-out with that combination so they’re still finding their feet,” Richardson acknowledged.
The Falcons will host Ballarat Pride at the State Netball Hockey Centre at Parkville at 7pm tonight.
The Lightning meets the Southern Saints at the same time on an adjacent court.
