TWENTY-SIX consecutive losses is just another irrelevant statistic to Marong A-grade netball coach Megan Bagnall.
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The Panthers newcomer's focus is fixed solely on the future and understands her relatively new-look squad is coming from a long way back in the pack.
But Bagnall says there are encouraging signs a win is just around the corner.
Only two weeks ago the Panthers fell by the narrowest of margins to reigning premiers Pyramid Hill, another Loddon Valley league club doing things tough on the netball court.
Last week brought a 16-goal loss to YCW, after the Panthers trailed by only six at half time.
Little-by-little and pass-by-pass, Bagnall is seeing signs of improvement.
The Panthers will get a chance to arrest that losing streak when they front up at Malone Park on Saturday against Inglewood, another team without a win this season.
"I'm feeling very excited about the weekend," said Bagnall, who joined the Panthers this season from Maryborough Castlemaine league club Maldon.
"Everyone (around the club) is feeling very positive and can see how well we are improving.
"There's no doubt it's going to be a challenging year, with the top four teams looking so dominant, but things are on the up."
It hasn't just been on-court where the Panthers have been challenged. They've also been tested off-field.
A welcome upgrade of three netball courts meant the club spent most of pre-season away from its Malone Park base.
The girls spent one night doing fitness work on the oval, Bagnall said, "just to be a part of the club".
They are still without lights, making do with a set of portable ones provided by City of Greater Bendigo council, and there's no scoreboard to be seen on game days.
Still there's still no hint of a gripe or grumble; Bagnall believes it has brought the girls closer together.
"The thing that amazes me about this club - and that goes for A, B, C, C res, 17s and 15s - everybody gives 100 per cent effort," she said.
"Nobody drops their head - everyone tries to that final whistle.
"It's amazing given how hard it would have been for them last year, coming off such big losses."
Bagnall, who also coaches the Panthers' A-reserve team, praised the commitment of her players and fellow coaches and delights at the efforts of under-age talent like Cody Clark and Chloe Lamb in stepping up to play A-grade.
With a clash against another winless team Bears-Lagoon Serpentine to follow after Inglewood, Marong has every right to be at least a little confident of breaking the drought.
But Bagnall understands there is a bigger picture to consider.
"We are not focusing on winning, we are focusing on developing our game and being competitive," she said.
Meanwhile, in other games this weekend, In other games, Bridgewater (4-0) and Mitiamo (3-0) clash in a battle of two of the three remaining undefeated clubs.
The Superoos lived up to the considerable pre-season hype in a 46-20 win against Calivil United last week and will be keen to take another big scalp.
Bridgewater warmed up for the contest with a 50 goal win over Inglewood.
Top of the ladder Newbridge hosts Bears Lagoon-Serpentine, while Pyramid Hill hosts YCW, with both teams looking for their second win.