With Covid restrictions and lockdowns taking a toll on the Ovens and Murray League, Way said her message to her Myrtleford players was always to put their mental health before the game.

"It was more about getting active and fit for yourself and netball second, that's the message I gave to the girls," Way said.

"They're a very fit group on their own accord, so I never had to question their fitness.

"The Ovens and Murray did the best they could to pull together as much of the season as possible.

"It was great early on when it felt like a season of old."

It marked Way's first season as the Saints' playing coach after last year's competition was abandoned.

The A-grade side put their all into their last round encounter with Albury to secure a spot in the top five.

But with the league announcing the cancellation of the remainder of the season last week, Way has accepted that it just wasn't meant to be.

"To not be able to take to the court is disappointing, but I'm a realist as well in that it wasn't going to happen due to Covid restrictions," she said.

"We were sitting fourth for a while and then went to fifth and we desperately wanted to play finals and make the top five for the success of the club.

"I love to coach, and being a playing coach is sometimes tricky, but I enjoyed it.

"The girls are great athletes and they play with real passion and emotion."

ALSO IN SPORT:

Before joining Myrtleford, Way had last been in the Ovens and Murray competition with Wodonga Raiders, playing from the age of 14.

After turning 21, she relocated to Perth where she played state league netball.

Darwin was the next stop, where she played in multiple premierships with Tracy Village Falcons and took out three Darwin Netball League best and fairest awards.

She admits there are a few differences between playing on the border compared to up north.

"It's definitely different playing grand finals up there when it's 32 degrees and 80 per cent humidity at 8:30 at night, and here it's 10 degrees or less," she said.

"We played mid-week and it was always warm.

"The netball was great up there and there was lots of quality players."

With the curtain now closed on what was a whirlwind season, Way is optimistic that there will be light at the end of the tunnel.

"2020 we couldn't play, 2021 we got 13 games in, so let's hope for a full season next year," she said.

"It was good to be able to get out and play the games that we could."

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content: