The recently amalgamated North West Lightning continues to grow in its debut season.
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The club has five teams in the Hockey Victoria outdoor competition, represented by players from across the state.
"We've got players that come over from the Wimmera, North Central and Shepparton to train with us," men's league one team manager Chris Wellman said.
Men's Div 1
The team is currently ninth on the ladder with a 2-8-2 record following its loss to the Old Xaverians at the weekend.
"It's been a tough start, but it's a new team and the player have spent a fair bit of the season learning to play with each other," Wellman said.
"Some of the play that we're getting now is really promising for the future."
The team started its season with a draw against the Bayside Cougars, followed with four consecutive losses, but was able to break the drought in round six with a win over Werribee.
Since its first win it has gone on to secure one more victory with four losses and another draw.
One of the biggest challenges for all of the club's teams was the shock passing of men's reserves player Michael Keating.
"That really rocked the entire club. We've come out the other side and everyone looked after each other" Wellman said.
"Michael was a highly valued member of the club."
Women's Div 1
The team is currently third on the ladder with a 6-3-3 record following its eight-goal thumping of MHSOB at the weekend.
The team's players Tamara Paull is eighth in the league overall with eight goals, while teammates Chelsie Hird and Kate Shallard are just behind with seven goals apiece.
"We're all very happy with how we're going considering we lost seven players from our grand final team," coach Mick Gulson said.
One aspect of the team's game Gulson aimed to improve was consistency from start to finish.
"We will focus on improving intensity throughout the entire game to avoid fade-outs," Gulson said.
A goal at the start of the season was to have a sustainable pool of players, in order to one day play in a higher league.
"Over the years we've struggled to fill both (women's) sides," Gulson said.
"But this year we've got the numbers...there's no more phone calls trying to chase players to fill the teams."
NWL's men's reserves are currently eighth on the ladder with a 2-7-3 record, women's reserves are second at 9-3 and the Under-16 mixed shield B team is fourth at 4-3-1.
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