AFTER a trio of pre-season practice games in Bendigo, Collingwood Magpies netball coach Rob Wright says the team is already excited about returning for its May 25 season proper match against West Coast Fever.
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Wright, who joined Collingwood as an assistant coach last season before taking over the reins from former coach Kristy Keppich-Birrell, was thrilled by the crowd response at Bendigo Stadium on the weekend, as four teams, including Melbourne Vixens, Queensland Firebirds and West Coast Fever, did battle in a pre-season tournament.
He confidently predicted the round five Magpies-Fever match in Bendigo would go close to being a full-house.
"It's a great venue and there was a magnificent crowd here on the weekend - it's going to be super exciting coming back," he said.
"I reckon it's going to be full - I don't reckon you will get a seat in the place when we play the Fever.
"We are really looking forward to it, we love coming here and hopefully we can keep coming back."
The Magpies finished the weekend with a win and a loss, defeating the Fever 66-59 on Saturday, before falling to the Vixens 56-61 on Sunday.
Wright was mostly pleased with his team's performance throughout the weekend and declared the Magpies on-track for their round one clash against Sunshine Coast Lightning, which will be part of a double-header at Melbourne Arena, also involving the Vixens and Firebirds on April 27.
"I'm not so fussed about the results, it's nice to win games and it's good for the confidence, but it's probably more about what we have learned," he said.
"I was pleased with how we went Saturday, but probably less pleased Sunday.
"But the beauty of Sunday is we have gotten to learn some things we need to adjust.
"We have been working hard on our structures and I feel that when we stuck to them they were really effective.
"But it showed that when we went away from that, the competition is so good that you can get exposed a bit."
The Bendigo Blockbuster weekend was the Magpies' second trip to central Victoria this pre-season.
They were defeated 53-55 by the Firebirds in a standalone encounter at Bendigo Stadium on February 23.
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