The Southern Mallee Giants were just two points away from recording the perfect season.
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After 11 matches the side was undefeated, before a one-point loss to Dimboola in their final regular-season clash, handed them their first loss.
Still, the Giants were easily the best team all year and should be extremely proud of their efforts. The side finished eight points in front of the powerhouse Horsham Demons, to claim the minor premiership.
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Giants' coach Mikayla George, who unfortunately couldn't play due to a knee injury, was "absolutely over the moon with the season".
"It was a really tremendous effort and credit to the girls for their hard work and commitment during the preseason, on and off the court," George said.
"I suppose it really shows in where we have finished for the 2021 season. I'm a very, very proud coach."
While George was impressed with her charges, she did admit that there's "always room for improvement".
The coach pointed to the group's preseason work as being a big catalyst for their success.
"As a coach, I think the recruiting phase of the season was really important," George said.
"Definitely the girls have worked very, very well together and that was a real key focus of mine, attracting the right sort of people for the club.
"Our preseason I think was paramount to our early success and we were able to run away with a few wins and I suppose that caught people a little off-guard early in the season. Just with our fitness and high level of commitment."
As the WFNL's newest team, George said the side was out to prove themselves to the rest of the competition this year. In their two seasons prior to 2021, the Giant's highest finish was seventh.
"There's that constant concept that we are the newest team to the Wimmera League and we want to be a force to be reckoned with, rather than a little bit of a mockery, or a bit of a pushover," she said.
"That was a real key focus for me throughout this season to have a really successful year on and off the court."
As far as on-court standouts go, defenders Brylee Schache and the "tremendous" vice-captain Katie Hickey were just two of the regular contributors for the Giants. Schache is a local Hopetoun girl who returned to netball after some time away.
George also pointed to Trudi Cook and Maddelyne Shannon as being two of her side's most improved players.
"They are two ladies that have really taken on board what I have said throughout the season," she said.
"Trudi Cook is a local Hopetoun lady, never played in a premiership, really, really hungry and has fire in her belly.
"Maddy Shannon is another local girl, really taking on everything that I have had to offer as a coach and willing to listen, learn and try new things."
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