FOR the past three seasons Collegians Mystified has reigned supreme in the Bathurst Netball Association's A grade competition, but whether or not they get the chance to make it a fourth consecutive premiership remains to be seen.
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As has been the case during the successful title run, Collegians has faced some stiff competition this year from the likes of Bulldogs and Panthers.
On top of that this season is the doubt which the current lockdown of regional New South Wales has created. With there now being COVID-19 cases in Bathurst, just when, or if, the season can resume remains to be seen.
Naturally Collegians coach Melissa Noonan would love to see the competition reach some sort of conclusion and that her current squad gets the chance to extend their streak.
But if not, she still relishes the fact she has had the chance to be part of such a special run.
"If we make it we do and if we don't that's okay, it's been nice playing," she said.
"It is all just fingers crossed and wait and see what the association can work out. That will be tricky, but they always do a fantastic job so I'm sure they'll work something out.
"But I've loved it, I've loved having the variety of the different girls I guess, the different mixes and having players like Sam [Thompson], she's just brilliant, she's always been fantastic with the girls and lifting team morale and getting everybody going.
"We've got Cait Matthews in the mix, Georgia Teirney, those girls are just great, Alarna Dawson - she is just unbelievable in the mid-court giving directions - so I've had a great bunch of girls."
As Noonan indicates, her squad has had plenty of changes each season from the 2018 unit which beat Panthers 42-38 on grand final day.
Only three players - Thompson, Teirney and two-time winner of best on court in the decider Teagan Germech - have been part of the title run.
"It's chopped and changed every year, I've never had the same core group. This year is probably the least amount of changes I've had, which was only three changes, last year was six, the year before that was five," the coach said.
"But they've always fought hard."
This season Noonan admits her side has "definitely been a bit flat". Since the top grade was split into A grade and A reserve grade one competitions, they've had two wins - one via forfeit - from three games.
It is Bulldogs Verdelho who sits on top of the ladder and should the competition - which last saw action on August 7 - resume, they shape as the favourites.
"They're at the top of the table and they haven't lost a game, they're the favourites and they absolutely should be, they've got some beautiful players there. Whenever we play against them it's just such a nice game," Noonan said.
"It's not been an easy run for us, but that's been great. This year has been no different other than we've lost a couple of games and that's been okay, it's okay to not always be at the top and have to fight for it.
"For this second part of the year we haven't always had everybody and that's been a bit tricky ... but yes, now it's wait and see."
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