Diamond Creek’s drive remains as strong as ever, with the club determined to remain at the top of the NFNL’s netball standings after winning the past ten Section 1 flags.
The club has five teams competing in the NFNL netball competition this year, including the all-conquering Diamond Creek 1, which has won the Section 1 premiership 11 times since the competition commenced in 2008.
The competition’s benchmark team rose to the top of the Section 1 ladder with a commanding 65-44 win over previously undefeated North Heidelberg 3 on Friday night.
However, they are not the only Diamond Creek team competing in the top-flight this campaign, with Diamond Creek 2 also in the competition and currently sitting fifth on the ladder, with four wins and three losses.
As for the club’s other three netball teams, Diamond Creek 4 is currently third in Section 8, while Diamond Creek 5 sits sit fifth in Section 6. Diamond Creek 3 is competing in Section 4 and is still on the hunt for its first win of the campaign.
Speaking to NFNL.org.au, Diamond Creek netball co-ordinator Kristie Gannon said it has been a solid start to the year despite several disruptions.
“The first few rounds we didn’t have all our players because some of our players do play VNL. They’re not able to play every week, so we do have a bit of chopping and changing every week,” Gannon said.
“But when we do have all our players in our line-ups we’ve got a good foundation and it’s great that we’ve got that.
Four-time Section 1 best and fairest Stacey Gannon and star midcourter Bronwyn Taylor have played major parts in all 11 premierships and continue to lead the way for Diamond Creek.
Gannon said that whilst they have been key to the Creekers’ success, the club was also focused on providing a pathway for its future stars.
“They (Gannon and Taylor) do play a big role and they’re superstars as players,” Gannon said.
“We’ve got some young guns coming up and learning from them as well. I think the combination of all of that has worked really well together.
“We’re like one big club. We’re not segregated into teams, and we all get along. We all have our little sessions together, things like that.”
Among the club’s up-and-coming stars are Chelsea Imanisani, Chylah Rogers, Chloe Gray and Emmalia Blake.
However, Gannon added to keep an eye on 20-year-old Paije Kearney, who is currently playing with Diamond Creek 2.
Kearney is also a talented footballer and plays with Darebin’s VFLW side.
“She’s a young, inspiring and very good player,” Gannon said.
“She’s been with us for three or four years and has made her way up the sections. She started in our fours and has made her way up.
“It’s really good to see that we’ve got some young talent coming through.”
Gannon said the playing group was stoked to finally be back on court last Friday, following a month on the sideline due to the most recent Melbourne lockdown.
“Everyone’s very happy to be back out playing,” Gannon said.
“A lot of girls were keen to be back the week before but that didn’t happen because of the restrictions.
“It’s been a bit of an up and down start but hopefully we’re back and we’ll have it a bit more regularly.”
