COUNTRY sport is all about getting in and doing the best you can for your club.
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At Nirranda, Rose Delaney does just that.
The 27-year-old has been a huge part of Nirranda since she first stepped onto the court to play netball for the Blues as a junior.
Now, at 27, Delaney will get her day in the sun when she plays her 200th game on Saturday against Deakin University at DC Farran Oval in Mortlake.
Delaney will line-up in the Blues A reserve team and then sit back and watch her A grade teammates look to build on an outstanding start to the season where it has won seven of its nine games.
“They are playing amazing netball, it’s been great to watch,” Delaney said of the Blues top team.
“The A reserve team is also going really well, it’s an exciting season for the club.”
Delaney has played a long majority of her career in A grade but has been happy to take a step back this year.
“I wouldn’t mind having a go at playing A grade again in the future,” Delaney said.
“But we have so many good young players this year. It is important those young players get the chance to play A grade, they are the ones that will keep the club alive and strong.”
Delaney may not be playing A grade but she has had the perfect vantage point to view many of the games from this season. Every second week she backs up from playing A reserve to umpire the A grade game.
Her highlight for the season was the Blues clash with Dennington in round two.
“That was such a good game, the standard was unbelievable,” Delaney said.
“It was great to see up close and obviously a terrific win for our girls.”
Delaney is used to a heavy workload, having spent most of her junior career playing two games each Saturday.
Over the course of her career she has played all over the court and has now settled into a role at goal defence.
While things are going to plan for Delaney and the Blues, season 2016 is turning out to be a tough one for Deakin University.
Like all teams, the Sharks started the season with genuine finals ambitions but have yet to record a win after nine rounds.
The Sharks had one of their best showings last week, losing by nine goals to Timboon Demons.
Deakin University coach Chris Van Kempen said her team is making progress.
“Last week we were only a couple of goals down at three-quarter-time but we just couldn’t finish off,” Van Kempen said.
“We have had some great quarters but just haven’t been able to string them together. The form of Georgia White has been a positive, she is still playing 17 and unders and is also goal keeper in A grade. She has played some beautiful netball, she is very talented.”
