Hampden league netball coaches pick their 2019 most improved players

A legend has bounced back from injury and a 2018 A reserve player has become an open grade starter almost every week.

The Standard asked coaches for their big improver after eight rounds - so here's the list.

Amy Hammond

Coach Mel Starr is thrilled with the youngster's progress.

"I think she has stepped up and taken a real leadership role through the midcourt," she said.

"I've asked her to do a few things differently to what she has normally done and she has taken that really well.

"She's really open to feedback and developing which is reflected in her game."

Starr said she had asked Hammond to create more depth down the court and she had responded well.

The Cobden mentor said that meant looking down the court for longer options when Hammond had the ball.

Krystal Baker and Amanda Clark

Camperdown is full of new combinations this season so Brooke Richardson elected to name a pair that has improved.

Baker and Clark switch between goal shooter and goal attack.

"It's definitely improving and their connection is getting stronger," Richardson said of the duo.

"Just knowing where each other are.

"This is the first year they have ever played together."

Chloe Uebergang and Emily Pertzel

"The last few weeks I've really noticed Chloe Uebergang step up her game especially when she's put into the centre. She plays a very defensive centre game and is able to get many hands and tips to balls, but also offer continuous driving in attack as well. Also Emily Pertzel is really stepping her game up when she's in wing defence. Her efforts are constant and she applies a lot of pressure when going for balls." - coach Kelsey Lewis

Kasey Owen

Coach Stacey O'Sullivan said the experienced Owen had been a big improver this season after dealing with a back complaint in 2018.

O'Sullivan said the goal and wing defence didn't get to do much pre-season but was finding her rhythm.

"In her past two games, she has played really strong netball," she said.

"She's a steady player coming out of defence."

Grace Butters

Coach Jaime Barr said defender Grace Butters was her most improved in open grade.

"It's her work rate and willingness to listen to (feedback about) aspects of her game and try and improve them," she said.

Barr said she was also impressed by division one players such as Phoebe Wittman, Ash Ferguson and Maggie Kellett who had been pushing for open grade spots.

Laura Ritchie, a 17 and under player, is another big improver pushing for open grade matches.

Ally Feely

"Particularly on the weekend (against Koroit), it was the best she has played all year," coach Rhiannon Cuomo said.

The Seagulls mentor said Feely's defensive pressure, timing and movement were spot on in her performance.

Feely mostly plays centre but also has stints in wing attack and wing defence.

Maddie Nash

Coach Lauren Hockley is thrilled with how Nash has adjusted to the Hampden league after making the switch from South West District league club Tyrendarra.

The Tigers mentor said Nash had noticed the step up to Hampden league.

"She's had to adjust to the quickness, she's got a great jump on her," she said.

Nash missed round four with an ankle injury but quickly bounced back to form.

Jess Hardiman

What has impressed coach Mandy van Rooy most is that Hardiman, a star junior goal shooter, has adjusted to goal attack.

"It takes a lot of maturity (to do that)," she said.

"We've seen weekly improvement with her."

Van Rooy said gun goal shooter Eliza Dwyer had been sharing her netball smarts with Hardiman and all the youngsters in the team.

Brooke Hoare

Terang Mortlake coach Lisa Arundell was hesitant to single out a player as her whole team has improved.

But she said goal defence Brooke Hoare had settled in well since her move from Kolora-Noorat to the Hampden league club at the start of 2018.

"She had a great first season in Hampden league and this year she is starting to capitalise on that," Arundell said.

"I think she has the potential to be the whole package.

"She has beautiful instinct, great reflexes and a fabulous vertical leap."

Sarah Smith

Experienced wing attack Smith has taken her game to another level.

"I think Sarah's overall game has stepped up massively since last year," said coach Raewyn Poumako.

"We work a lot with Sarah on attack so that she's got lots of moves.

"So that she hasn't got just one or two moves in her playbook."

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