The reigning premier has continued its dominance on court and sits on top of the ladder after 11 rounds.

But what makes all this possible? What's happening behind the scenes?

Nirranda welcomed The Standard's Brian Allen to Thursday night training and gave him exclusive access on match day against Panmure in round 11 at Panmure Recreation Reserve.

"So defensively, what's happening?" says coach Steph Townsend during a match simulation drill.

"We're getting sucked into the player," replies captain Katie Ryan, almost instantly.

Nirranda's training is full of voice between players.

Townsend leads the way, engaging her team in group conversations and one-on-ones about drills.

But the whole group feels confident to engage in dialogue and give each other feedback in an appropriate way.

It's clear Nirranda has strong leadership with experienced players Anna Archie and Lisa Anders providing plenty of guidance on the practice courts.

Georgia Haberfield loves training and brings great energy.

"Training is a massive component when it comes to playing high-end netball," she says.

"Our group of girls is really tight-knit and I think it's a good way to come together and work out our netball skills and start bonding as a team."

Haberfield is doing plenty of work away from the court to help her netball.

"I go to the gym three mornings a week and I do boxing one night a week," she says.

Townsend says netball team selection is different to football.

"So usually we have selection process at the start of each pre-season," she says.

"You don't really have the luxury of bringing players in and out like a football side.

"We just pick however many players the coach wants at the start of the year and we sort of just run with that number for the entire season."

But of course that doesn't mean Townsend never promotes players and she likes to ring them when they are going to step up to A grade.

In fact, Townsend would like to see more youngsters train with her A grade team.

"I have invited them, I think I must be either funny-looking or scary or probably both," she jokes.

"This year the 17s haven't quite wanted to come and do it.

"It is an open slather though, they are more than welcome to.

"I will try and push to get some more girls up."

The Blues are a relaxed bunch before play.

Much of the talk is about whether Townsend should be wearing her blue Fight MND (motor neurone disease) socks up or down!

Ryan has an energy-boosting treat during the B grade match.

"Every year that I've been playing I have my coffee in the morning, I have my breakfast and usually before the game I always have a Mars Bar," she says.

"It seems to be my go-to thing to keep me in luck."

The team gets stuck into its warm-up which involves the classics - high knees and butt kicks.

But there's also a unique drill where the players put a rubber band just above their knees and crab walk from the sideline to the middle of the court.

Townsend says it's to strengthen the glutes.

I catch up with Townsend's mum and team statistician, Lesley Kim, while the Blues mentor talks tactics with her team.

"I just love being supportive of my kid's game so coming every Saturday is easy when you're coming to watch Steph and the girls play," she says.

"It was a pretty proud mum moment last season when they won the grand final."

Kim provides great insight into Townsend's coaching influences.

"Over the years she's been playing sport at elite level with her cricket and she has had some really good coaching and she's developing her coaching role to where she has come from," she says.

Townsend's main message for the Panmure match is "don't take it lightly".

"Like I said Thursday night they are a contender for the top-five so it will be good to see how we can push ourselves against those type of teams," she says.

There's an impressive interaction at quarter-time.

Experienced goal keeper Lisa Anders finds Townsend to discuss tactics and ask for feedback.

Townsend gives her a minute of her time during the short break, taking the time to flesh out ideas.

In the background, other leaders such as Cloe Marr give teammates direction.

Haberfield has the last word before the Blues head back on court.

"Blues on three!" she says.

"One, two, three, Blues!" reply her teammates before they break away.

The Blues storm to a 16-goal half-time lead with two of their biggest fans cheering them on.

Teenagers Shannara Drake and Jessie Couch don't play netball anymore but they love the Nirranda Football Netball Club.

"It's like a big family here, it's a lot of fun," Couch says.

The youngsters are hoping Nirranda can go to back-to-back this season and Drake believes they're improving on last year.

"I think they're gelling better as a team," she says.

Couch likes watching the skipper play.

"I like watching Katie Ryan, she kills it and she's awesome," she says.

Drake says wing attack Lisa Couch is her favourite player to watch.

Ryan sits out the third quarter but it's almost as if she's out in the action.

She's up on her feet encouraging teammates, providing directions and feeling each moment of the game.

It's exciting to see Blues youngster Montana Wallace get a run at goal shooter in the final quarter.

The tall 15-year-old plays with plenty of confidence among her experienced teammates.

It tops off a match played in great spirit by both teams.

The Bulldogs also give first-gamer Jacque Dickson a run at goal shooter in the fourth quarter.

The Blues get the points with a 70-38 win.

Young goal shooter Sophie Adams was among Nirranda's best with 29 goals.

Ryan tells me if I had come to a home game I would have got the full post-match insight.

"We have our stereo happening, Georgia and Steph are usually having a bit of a dance-off and we get a laugh out of that," she says.

Townsend says the tune of choice is Jagged Edge ft. Reverend Run - Let's Get Married (Remix).

"Just this year, we started having ice-baths as well," Ryan adds.

"Three minutes in and out of the freezing water but it does us wonders."

Anders admits it's tough to get in an ice bath.

"I think I'm the biggest sook when it comes to that,' she says with a laugh.

Anders says away-game post-match rituals aren't as set in stone.

"Sometimes we can sit and have a beer," she says.

"For me today, I've got all my kids here so it will be organising them."

What really stood out about Nirranda was the level of trust and communication between the players.

Two-way feedback is delivered regularly and with care at training and on game day.

It's not just Townsend or Ryan talking to their players, it's the communication between everyone.

Anders says the Blues are open to different perspectives.

"We play a lot off each other and we listen to each other because everyone has different ideas and Steph's very open to that," she says.

"And I think she encourages it.

"She obviously has the final say at the end of the day.

"I think it's good to get different perspectives and different thoughts on things that are happening on the court."

Anders, a 2018 premiership player, says trust has been maintained despite having a new-look side.

"We're definitely a new side this year but the new girls have slotted in quite nicely and I think that trust from last year has just continued on through this year," she says.

Wing attack Lisa Couch (Terang Mortlake), defender Cloe Marr (Timboon Demons), Anna Archie (New Zealand) and Montana Wallace are off-season recruits who played on Saturday against Panmure.

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