CASTLEMAINE hopes last Saturday's breakthrough win will set the tone for future improvement on the BFNL netball court.
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The Magpies downed Kyneton 43-30 to record their first A-grade win since round 13 of the 2014 season.
It snapped a 42-game losing streak.
Success might be short-lived - at least in the immediate-term - with the Magpies to be missing at least four players from last round's winning combination against South Bendigo this Saturday.
New Castlemaine coach Debbie Symes said the situation was regrettable but unavoidable after the Magpies had recruited more than 20 new faces to their senior ranks this season.
"It will create some opportunities for some young ones to step up," she said.
"I'm happy with the team, but we haven't nestled into a smooth pattern yet.
"It's still a getting to know (each other) process, but I can see improvement."
Symes said the unavailability of players this weekend would not detract from what was an obviously much-needed win at Kyneton.
"It's just a shame Kyneton have lost so many good players, but still, I thought it was good netball," she said.
"Kyneton have still got some good players, and it was a good match.
"(The win) certainly helped with a bit of a morale around the club."
The foundations for a 13-goal win were built on solid defensive games from Georgia Creighton and Rebecca Orro and a standout midcourt game from a returning Kirby Jefferies.
"The inclusion of Kirby Jefferies made a huge difference," Symes said.
"We are not 100 per cent sure she is going to stick around and play this week as well.
"She gave us a bit of a sped through the midcourt, but I'm note she'll be available all the time because she's a doctor."
Equally, if not more pleasing for Symes, was the performance of Brianna Pedretti, who was promoted for the Magpies' 17-and-under team and was one of the Magpies best in her time on-court.
Symes, who joined the Magpies earlier this season after a lengthy playing and coaching career across central Victoria, said she had anticipated a rocky start to the season with so many new faces across the four senior grades.
Her worst fears were realised in a heavy round two loss to top-of-the-ladder Sandhurst, a defeat Symes believed served only to highlight the differential in talent bases and the enormous rebuilding job that lies ahead at Camp Reserve.
"You look at Sandhurst, I've had some of those young kids in squads and they are still playing there together," she said.
"They can just let the ball go and know their teammates will be there, whereas I have started fresh with all that.
"But some of our newer players are settling in nicely and I can see our progress already."
In this weekend's round of matches, top plays bottom when Sandhurst meets Kyneton at the QEO, Eaglehawk hosts Golden Square at Canterbury Park, Strathfieldsaye travels to Gisborne, and Maryborough clashes with Kangaroo Flat.
