Ararat Eagles will not field an A Grade netball team in 2019 after being granted an exemption by the Mininera and District Netball Association.
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The club was notified late Tuesday night, less than a week before the season was due to start, after applying for an exemption four weeks ago.
A Grade coach Melissa Murnane said the club will be fielding a B and C grade teams only.
"The decision is very relieving as it means we can concentrate on fielding two consistent teams each week," she said.
"Unfortunately we have found ourselves in a position where we didn't think we could field an A Grade side, despite winning the B Grade premiership last year.
"We have lost some players from that side and four players are over 37. Our fitness isn't up to playing the longer quarter week in, week out."
Murnane said during the exemption process she presented the club's case around junior development to plan for the future.
"The by-laws state you are supposed to field an A Grade side above all others," she said.
"In exceptional circumstances, you can apply for an exemption.
"We didn't have any A Grade standard players - we felt it was unreasonable to put players in a position to be forced to play A Grade.
"I thought about the players we have and if they would be able to get a game in any other club's A Grade team."
If the exemption wasn't granted, Murnane was concerned about the ability of the club to field both an A and B Grade side.
"I was worried players wouldn't be physically able to fill the positions and play the season and lose more numbers as the season went on," she said.
"It isn't a matter of winning or losing it's about playing at the level you are capable of.
"After what's happened this year we are trying to develop our junior players to become really good senior players for us in the future."
Murnane said the ambition for the club is to work on skill development and teamwork moving forward.
"The end goal is for next season to be fielding all teams in the competition," she said.
"I am very grateful we were able to get the exemption. It's given us the ability to work towards that goal of being consistent and working towards developing our players."
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