Beck O'Connell chats to Wodonga Raiders' goal shooter Zoe Rae.
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BO'C: Raiders are staring down the barrel of finals for the first time in more than a decade. That must be a great feeling.
ZR: Yeah it's very exciting. We're getting a lot of supporters to the games because it's been a while since A-grade were in finals. Everyone's very excited and we're feeling proud.
BO'C: You're in the top five on percentage but have a big game this weekend against North Albury to secure your spot. What will you be focusing on?
ZR: We just have to come out really strong. We've had a bit of luck in the last few games when we've come out strong from the start. It's always harder when you're trying to play catch-up. We just need to play our game, and that's something Jodie (House) has been telling us. Just to play our game and not worry about anything else. We know what we can do, so we just need to trust ourselves and trust each other to all do our jobs on the court.
ALSO IN SPORT:
BO'C: After Georgia Thomas' injury you've stepped up into the role as goal shooter. How are you enjoying combining with Shaylah (House) in goals?
ZR: Having Georgia go down was really disappointing because she worked so hard and was playing so well. As a result I've gained a bit more court time. Given the circumstances, it's not good having her injured. We'll really miss her. Shaylah and I work quite well together and we're pretty confident on the court with each other. It's been good leading into finals to have a bit more court time together to work on a few things.
BO'C: How did you end up back at Raiders?
ZR: My boyfriend played at Raiders the past two years. I took three years off after I finished Uni and moved back to Shepparton. Josh was still living here and I decided not to play to keep my weekends free to see him and concentrate on my career. When I moved back I thought I might as well give it another crack. I'm still young and didn't want to give netball up completely. Keiran De Koeyer messaged me to see if I wanted to have a run. I went and tried out and loved it.
BO'C: What does Jodie do to get the best out of the team?
ZR: She has so much netball knowledge and I think she's one of the best coaches I've had in terms of training. It's always specific to the game and she works one-on-one with us on our skills and areas that might be weaknesses. It's great having her as a friend and she's so approachable. It's nice having a coach you can confide in and feel comfortable around. She's been a great coach.