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COLBINABBIN'S quest for a third successive Heathcote District league A-grade netball title is off to a winning start.
The Grasshoppers dug deep to overcome Leithchville Gunbower by three goals at Leitchville on Saturday.
They faced a spirited challenge by the Bombers, who trailed by seven goals early in the contest, but regrouped to narrowly go down 53-50.
It was a fresh-look Colbinabbin, which featured only two players - coach Liz Cobbeldick and captain Olivia McEvoy - from last season's premiership line-up.
A raft of injuries, including to Gabby Barlow and Lou Dupuy, allowed the Grasshoppers to introduce first-gamers Jamison Lowe, who played a full game in wing defence, and Zena Wareham, who played the second half in goals.
Cobbledick said both had acquitted themselves well against a Bombers team that she expected to challenge strongly for a top three position.
"Zena played half a game on Jodie Lake, who is probably the best defender in the league," she said.
"And Jamison did everything we asked of her.
"I was really happy with her game and it will be good to keep working with her over the next few weeks. She'll be a great senior player down the track."
Back from a stint at Bendigo league club Golden Square, Holly Guerra wasted little time making an impression to win the nod as the Grasshoppers' best player.
"She was really good in defence, got a lot of intercepts and was really tough and physical," Cobbledick said.
"She made a huge difference for us.
"If we lost the ball down in attack, she worked really hard to bring the ball back."
The Grasshoppers were also well served by McEvoy, who played the first half of the game in goals, before moving back into her traditional midcourt role.
Leitchville-Gunbower debuted youngsters in Courtney West and Tahli Brereton, with both winning impressing the opposition coach.
"I think Jodie (Lake) was really good for them, you could see she was always talking to them and communicating," she said.
"I think it's so important for those young girls to come up and play A-grade netball as soon as they can.
"It's great to see we have so many good juniors coming through this league."
Meanwhile, North Bendigo's Brigette McDougall has her first win as a coach after the Bulldogs defeated an improved Heathcote 41-35.
McDougall was without her co-coach Jacqueline Button, who is on her honeymoon, but benefited from top performances from midcourter Samantha McDougall, goalers Lauren Oates and Ruby Scanlon and goal keeper Emma Lucas.
She said the team had been slow to get going but had played some solid netball once they had found rhythm.
"Getting that first win was good for confidence," McDougall said.
"We weren't really sure what we would be up against in Heathcote, they weren't overly strong last year but you just never know, teams change consistently.
"I just told the girls they needed to be ready for anything, and we just needed to keep our heads high and play the best game we possibly could.
"It took us a little bit of time to warm up and get into it, but once we did it worked out well.
"It's a great start to the season and we can only get better."
The Bulldogs will look to consolidate when it becomes Huntly’s first opponent for the new season.
Belinda Pinner got her Mount Pleasant coaching career off a to an impressive start, after the Blues defeated Lockington-Bamawm United 46-18.
At Elmore, White Hills flexed its muscles at the earliest possible opportunity, defeating a young Bloods team 64-16.
Goal shooter Shannyn Keely was a standout for the Demons.