By Tara Murray
Melton Centrals’ Riddell District Netball League season came to end along with the careers of three of their greatest ever players on Saturday.
For the first time in a number of years, Centrals A-grade side won’t be a participant in finals, in what has been a disappointing season for the club.
It came to end on Saturday against Diggers Rest, with the Burras winning 42-36.
Centrals coach Randy Pereira said the match was similar to several of their games this season.
“We weren’t good enough for long enough,” he said.
“We started well and we led until a minute to go in the third quarter.”
Sarah Hepburn shot 28 goals for the Centrals, while Emmalea D’Antonio was named their best.
The game saw Rebecca Morabito, Jess May and Melissa Laird play their final games for the club, with all three retiring.
Pereira said the three were heart of the club.
“They have been the base of the club,” he said. “All three played in both premierships.
“They’ve won eight best and fairests between them.”
Morabito will go down as one of the league’s greatest players as the only player to win the league best and fairest award, the Ryan Medal, three times.
Pereira said overall it had been a disappointing season for the club, with only one side making finals.
The A-grade side finished second bottom with just three wins.
He said players availability had an impact on the top two sides, meaning they didn’t have their best side for most of the year.
“We just haven’t been able to have a consistent team throughout the year,” he said.
“Only one of our players from last season [Morabito] has been there all through the year.
“Games we lost earlier in the year hurt us. We shot ourselves in the foot with out shooting.
“That was 12 points that went begging.”
With the retirement of the three stars, Pereira said it would be a full rebuild next season.
He said four players who had been part of their under-19 sides in recent years, had made their debuts this season.
Pereira said he will continue coaching at Centrals next season but he’s unsure in what capacity.
He said he was happy to step down from A-grade if they found the right coach to come on board.
While disappointed with how his side went, he was thrilled with sides like Wallan and Rockbank playing finals.
