WARRNAMBOOL has proven the saying `it's not what you but who you know' rings true.
The Blues have secured Hampden league's biggest recruit of 2009, with Sam Holt included on their list.
Coach Jacqui Bowman was rapt to welcome the defender, who hails from Portland.
"She's a good family friend,'' she said.
"She actually used to live with my Mum and Dad when she played with the (South West) Spirit.
"She won't be playing every game, just when she can make it down.''
Holt, who said Bowman's parents were her second family, is currently playing in Victorian Netball League's championship division for Booranda Genesis on Wednesday nights.
After narrowly losing to last year's top sides in the opening two rounds, the team has won its past four games.
A major aim for Holt later in the year is to make the Victorian Fury side, which plays in the Australian Netball League.
The 21-year-old is not a newcomer to Hampden.
She played in Warrnambool's senior premiership side when she was in year 12.
HAMPDEN's most successful netball club of 2008 will show just how successful it was last season when it hosts South Warrnambool on Sunday.
North Warrnambool Eagles will unveil its four premiership flags thanks to last year's A1, A2, 17 and under and 15 and under sides.
The ceremony will take place at noon at the Bushfield courts, prior to the A1 match.
Netball co-ordinator Maree Millard said the club was excited about the unveiling.
"Hopefully it gives us a bit of incentive for this season,'' she said.
THE slippery saga of netball courts hasn't ended just yet.
With drizzle after the A1 match on Saturday, South Warrnambool moved its senior match to the club's top court.
The bottom court which received the Rebound Ace surface overcoat a fortnight ago was slightly slippery, but not as bad as it was before work was done.
It is believed once all the soapy residue is washed off the courts, they will be OK.
The Match Point Systems employee who did the overcoat will be returning to South and North for resistance testing, so stay tuned.
HAMPDEN league general manager Michael Harrison had plenty of attention from the females for a few days this week. But it was surprisingly unwanted.
Members of the opposite gender were inquiring about the league's netball results, which were absent from the website. Harrison was straight onto it, with the information accessible on Tuesday afternoon.
"It will be good to get all the girls off my back,'' he quipped before loading the site.
FOOTBALL and netball clubs are renowned for family trees. Let us know if you can beat this one.
South Warrnambool's junior footy and netball teams have nine first cousins suiting up this season.
Rachael Whitehead (17 and under), Ebony Stacey (15 and under) and Madeline Drew (13 and under) will hit the court while Haydn Drew (under 16s), Jayden Whitehead (under 14s), Jeremy Stacey, Travis Stacey, Willem Drew and Bradley Whitehead (under 12s) will pull on the boots.
SOUTH West District Football Netball League has scheduled an interleague match against Mid South East Netball League on June 6.
It will be the first time the cross-border leagues have met, with the South Australians hosting the football and netball matches at Mount Burr.
South West has started its selection process, holding two trials. Except for the 15 and unders, the other grades did not have ideal attendance figures. Another trial will be held May 3, with the league hoping more players put their hand up to play in the June long weekend match.
SWDFNL junior development officer Jodie McIntosh said there was plenty of interest in last year's interleague game.
She believed the fact this year's had been scheduled a month later and on the league's break weekend could be why players are not as enthusiastic.
Have anything for Courtside? Contact Kate at kbutler@standard.fairfax. com.au or on 55631856.
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