VU-Western Lightning has re-captured the hard-nosed defence of recent years but the integration of a new-look attack is still a work in progress.
The Lightning had the tightest defence in the past two Victorian Netball League championship division seasons, with Fiona Themann and Brooke Thompson forming an unbreakable duo in the defensive circle.
But for the Lightning to go one step better than last season’s preliminary final finish, it needs to fast-track the cohesiveness of the new-look mid-courters and goalers.
Time is of the essence for Lightning coach Matt Hills, who can’t afford to play catch-up in what promises to be a close competition.
“There are a lot of teams in a similar position to us in that they are building,” he said. “Unfortunately you don’t have a lot of time to do it.”
At least Hills has the experience of front-end restructure as in each of the past two years, the Lightning has had to find new avenues to goal.
The losses of Megan Fitzpatrick (injury) and Erin McCarthy (overseas) this season have been offset by the arrival of highly-rated Kate Thompson and promotion of youngster Sophie Gunn.
Gunn missed the opening two matches, which has meant more attacking time for Sophie Barr, while Thompson has earned a pass mark without setting the games alight in the opening two weeks.
Hills says it will take time for the three goalers to mesh and they need to be firing on all cylinders if the Lightning is to make some noise at the pointy end of the season.
“Each of the last three years we’ve had different front end combinations, so we’ve have to reinvent it again,” Hills said.
The mid-court of Amelia Hills, Elle Bennetts and new recruit Danni Stewart has shown positive signs early but are nowhere near where Hills envisages they will be with a few more games under the belt.
“Danni comes out of a successful [City West] Falcons program that plays a different style of ball movement to what we do,” Hills said.
“There’s a bit of working in with the way she plays and her working in with us.”
Lightning will take netball to the suburbs on Saturday night when it hosts North East Blaze at Sunbury Stadium.
