Sport
28 August, 2023
Goalscorers feel the Byrne for 400th occasion as Sherriden celebrates
For Sherriden Byrne, it was simply another game in the quest for a premiership which she has waited two decades for. However, for everyone else who has known her for so long, it was a well-deserved 400th game for someone who bleeds red and black...
For Sherriden Byrne, it was simply another game in the quest for a premiership which she has waited two decades for.
However, for everyone else who has known her for so long, it was a well-deserved 400th game for someone who bleeds red and black, both on the netball court and the football field.
Byrne has enjoyed a stellar season in both sports.
Last week, she earned team of the year honours in the Ballarat Football League Women’s competition, despite playing just 11 games, helping set up a Lady Redbacks team in their return to the competition this season alongside the likes of Annika Munn and Olivia Butler.
On the court, her partnership with Elise Mottram in the Redbacks’ defensive third is one that is feared by many in the competition, having conceded the fewest goals throughout the home and away season.
Byrne says playing in her 400th game, and securing a victory over Lexton which also earned them a week off before a preliminary final appearance against either Natte Bealiba or Maryborough Rovers, was thrilling, even though what is an older team was battling against warm weather.
“The girls played awesome. It was a bit warm — I’ve never really played a final in this sort of weather, but we held up. We are a fairly older team, so it was great in that regard,” she said.
It was a sentiment that was echoed by coach Emma Rumpff, who said although Carisbrook were fighting a Lexton team who pulled up in droves to support their cause, it was the Redbacks that held firm throughout the day.
“It’s a great occasion, as she’s an absolute legend of the club. To pull away with a win like that is a credit to her and her teammates,” she said.
Byrne says maintaining her body and staying fit, as well as some injury luck, has helped her maintain peak form in her 400 games for the club.
“I think I’ve been really lucky. I’ve never really had a major injury that has kept me out for an extended period. I’ve rolled the occasional ankle, but other than that, I haven’t had many bad ones,” she said.
That even extends to Byrne’s football, where she says it is a bit more taxing on her body, yet was something she enjoyed taking on for the year.
“I do enjoy footy. It is a bit harder on the body than netball and it takes a lot longer to recover, so I didn’t play every game, but I did play most. They are a great bunch of girls and it was a fantastic achievement to get the team up and running again,” she said.
“The team spirit was great, everyone was backing one another up and never dropped their heads. We might have been getting well-beaten, but everyone was staying positive and we pushed really hard. It will be interesting to see where next season goes, as we’re on the up.”
In the meantime, Byrne is focused on ensuring the Redbacks can break their 24-year premiership drought in A grade, and central to that will be the form of herself and Mottram, who combined to concede just 436 goals during the home and away season — 50 less than the next best defensive unit.
Byrne praised Mottram for their understanding of the situation on the court at all times.
“Elise is awesome, I love playing with her. We don’t even have to talk to one another on the court, we just know what we have to do and where we are meant to go,” she said.
That continues to drive Byrne, who is convinced 2023 might just be her year she finally gets to enjoy A grade success with Carisbrook.
“I’m looking forward to the rest of the finals campaign. We have a strong team this year and I think it’s been 20 years since I won a premiership. I think this year can be the year,” she said.