AN INJURY-HIT Kangaroo Flat will welcome back star young goal shooter Ruby Barkmeyer for the rest of the 2018 BFNL netball season.

The 17-year-old, who was earlier this month chosen in a 36-athlete squad to attend a national Netball Centre of Excellence, training camp in Canberra in October, will make her return in the Roos’ clash against long-time rival Golden Square this Sunday.

The clash at Dower Park is a WorkSafe Game of the Month and will be highlighted by a special coaching appearance from Sports Australia Hall of Fame representative Sharelle McMahon.

The Bendigo-born two-time Diamonds world championship winner will coach both the Roos and Bulldogs for a half each.

Kangaroo Flat coach Jayden Cowling said the return of Barkmeyer would go some way to offsetting the unavailability through injuries of star centre Chelsea Sartori (ankle ligaments) and emerging goal shooter Adrienne Murphy (fractured ankle).

“Ruby is obviously still busy with her VNL commitments (with Geelong Cougars), but the end of her school season at Geelong Grammar finishes at the end of June-July and she’s missed playing with Kangaroo Flat,” Cowling said.

“She is going to be in Bendigo most weekends anyways, so she was keen to rejoin the girls for the rest of the season.

“The girls are pretty excited and Ruby herself is pumped.

“We are pretty low on numbers at the moment, especially with a few injuries too in the lower grades, so the inclusion of Ruby is much-needed.”

Murphy is expected to miss at least another month for the Roos, while Sartori is hopeful of a return for next weekend’s clash against South Bendigo.

Factoring in four points for each bye, the clash between the Roos (1-2 with two byes) and Bulldogs (2-2 and one bye) will determine which is ranked higher on the ladder by the end of the weekend.

Following a massive turnover of A-grade players during pre-season and with a renewed emphasis on youth, Bulldogs coach Kendyl Hopley said she was pleased with how her side’s season was progressing.

“We are a young side and still have a lot to learn in getting that A-grade experience under our belt, but the girls have proved really competitive,” she said.

“The 11-goal turnaround against South Bendigo proved that we have fight in us and that shows the maturity that is coming through with that young playing group.

“I’m certain we are heading in the right direction and building for a strong future.”

Hopley praised the early-season efforts of the Bulldogs youngest players Bree Heiden, Makayle Dole and Millie Fogarty.

Carly Ladson will be an absentee for Golden Square due to her Bendigo Thunder commitments against Keilor.

Both coaches said they were looking forward to McMahon’s input during the game.

“It will be great having Sharelle sitting alongside us on the bench and offering us her words of wisdom and knowledge,” Hopley said.

In other A-grade games, second-placed Eaglehawk hosts South Bendigo, while fourth-placed Maryborough makes the trip to Gisborne to take on the third-placed Bulldogs.