Two star recruits unveiled and a clean sweep against league power White Hills - the HDFNL netball season couldn't have started any better for Elmore.
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The Bloods won in every grade against White Hills, including a 59-41 win in A-grade that was highlighted by the debut of Gabe Richards and Andrea Wilson.
The former Bendigo Spirit and Bendigo Braves basketball stars joined Elmore on the eve of the season.
It's not the first time they've played in the HDFNL, having been premiership team-mates at Mt Pleasant in 2012 where Richards dominated at goal shooter and Wilson won the club best and fairest.
They also played together for Golden Square in the BFNL.
While Wilson started on the bench on Friday night, Richards set the tone for the game and, potentially, the season.
Richards was fed beautifully by rising star goal attack Abbey Hromenko and midcourters Chloe Whitfield and Steph Donnellon and she converted her opportunities.
Richards scored 16 goals in the first quarter alone as the Bloods raced to an 18-9 lead.
With the heat a key factor, both clubs rotated their squads.
To White Hills' credit the margin didn't blow out as much as it looked like it would after the first quarter onslaught.
With six of their 2019 premiership team moving on, the Demons were forced to blood some younger players and coach Lauren Bowles would have been happy with the way her side fought it out against arguably the premiership favourite.
Dani Wee Hee battled gallantly in the midcourt, while goalers Olivia Treloar and Alyssa Cole did well against a quality Elmore defence.
Results from Friday's action:
A-grade: White Hills 41 lt Elmore 59.
A-reserve: White Hills 30 lt Elmore 33.
B-grade: White Hills 32 lt Elmore 37.
B-reserve: White Hills 34 lt Elmore 44.
Under-17: White Hills 24 lt Elmore 49.
Under-15: White Hills 6 lt Elmore 61.
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