The first was when the River Murray Representative side won the A grade division at the State Country Championships in June.

The second was when Mypolonga equalled the record previously set by Tailem Bend of winning five premierships in a row.

Mypolonga

Mypolonga once again was the dominant side in the A grade, as well as having a very strong side in the reserves of up and coming young players, with both sides taking out the premiership for the season.

One could always question whether running with eight players each week was beneficial for the players in the team at Mypolonga, as it meant that a top quality player was on the bench each week, rather than playing a full game in the reserves.

Cass Martin and Sharmon Banks were magnificent in goals for Mypolonga this season, with added height and strength in and around the goal circle.

With precision feeding from Courtney Blacker and the rest of the mid court, this became an area of their game that other clubs struggled to be able to put a dent in.

Coach Pat Brown once again kept the players focused and together as a team, as well as developing and promoting a number of juniors into the reserves team, who sat bench each week for the top side.

My player of the season: It was great to see Cass Rathjen at wing attack this season, as she plays the position perfectly, making good use of space and backing up around the ring.

Opposition sides have quite often found her to be the player who has caused them a lot of concern in matches, as she is so hard to match up on, and to stop the influence she can have in a game.

Rathjen, who has played in goals and in the mid court throughout her career, announced her retirement after the grand final.

The one to watch: Renae Jachmann has stepped to some of the biggest challenges in her netball career over the past couple of seasons, quite often standing the best player in the opposition most weeks.

Another tall, strong defender would enable them to use Dallas Huxtable at wing defence, a position she plays to perfection. I think this would give them the strength they need to be able to be the top side in the association.

Mannum

Mannum , after a slow start to the season, settled and were a serious finals contender in 2008.

It was most unfortunate for them ito have Amy Loechel suffer a bad injury and have to leave the court early in the preliminary final.

Mannum was one of the most settled sides in the association with seven consistent players who each mastered their position.

Similar to the other top sides, Mannum has a very strong reserves side, who supported them each week.

There were a few changes in the side, with the Loechel sisters returning from Adelaide, and the recruitment of Chantelle Zadow as a defender.

Mannum is a tall side, with great athleticism.

The mid court is solid and controlled.

They move the ball well down the court and into the goalers with speed and accuracy.

Amy Loechel has been a playing coach this season, with support from Jo Heward on match days.

Her enthusiasm for the role has been obvious, she has been committed and focused on getting Mannum back up to the top.

It is hard as a playing coach to lead, direct and also play alongside your peers, and for someone as young as Amy to undertake this role in 2008 was a great achievement.

My player of the season: Tracy Loechel is probably the best all round defender I have seen play in this association.

She is a hard working player all over the court, intercepting, rebounding and sending the ball into her goal end with precision.

In the mid court she picks up loose balls and has great vision down the court.

The one to watch: Kim McQueen has had one of her best seasons in 2008.

She has been strong in the mid court, and has backed up well for her fellow players.

She has strong hands and good vision down the court.

The future: Mannum were not far off the pace in 2008.

They have height at each end, good vision down the court, and some great young players waiting in the wings.

They will be around the mark in 2009.

Jervois

Jervois had one of the best line-ups they have had for a few years in 2008.

It has been quite some time since they had the services of both Llewellyn twins in the same season, and this proved to be a boost with Sal in goals and Julia in defence.

Ebony Cunningham was a good recruit for the side, and along with Sal Llewellyn, Jervois built a strong and formidable goaler combination.

They had height, good vision and worked the goal circle well.

2008 has seen the beginning of a new era of netball at Jervois.

They now have some depth both in the top side and also the reserves, with a couple of juniors progressing very well, and playing some good games in that team.

Jervois also appointed a new coach.

Sonya Cobbledick is committed to rebuilding a strong A grade netball side at Jervois.

Her knowledge of the game, her willingness to share with and develop the players in the side, along with her skills and accreditation in the netball and fitness in general, has to be beneficial to the club.

My player of the season: Tracy Kennett has probably had one of her best seasons in 2008 as a senior player.

In an era when the smaller mid court players are almost a thing of the past, Kennett demonstrated a real desire to take her game to the next level in 2008.

She is fast through the mid court, and feeds into her goalers with precision.

One to watch: Without doubt, Caitlyn Liebich has been the player who has surprised many this season.

After sneaking under the radar in past seasons, coach Cobbledick gave Liebich, who is still eligible for the underage competition, the opportunity, and she stepped up to all challenges.

She has developed into a strong goal keeper, very often standing some of the strongest opposition in the association.

She is tall and tight in and around the ring, has long arms and I wouldn’t be surprised to see her play at a higher level in the future.

The future: I think the future looks bright for Jervois, and if they are able to retain their side from this season, and perhaps pick up an additional key player, then I think they will be a force in 2009.

Ramblers

Ramblers started the season out rather slow, and took some time to settle.

It was only after the return of Leanne Bedding that the side started to put it all together and started winning some games.

My player of the season: Leanne Bedding adds so much depth and experience to the side.

If she had played all season, I think that Ramblers would have won more games and pushed for a finals spot, and I also think Bedding would have pushed for a top three finish in the association best and fairest count.

She is a tall defender, with long arms, good vision and can cause opposition attackers a real headache.

The one to watch: Almost my player of the season, but definitely the one to watch is Sam Wehrman.

Wehrman has a natural ability to read the play, make good use of the space around her and work the ball into her goalers.

She was an extremely decorated junior player, and over the next few seasons will start collecting the senior accolades as well.

The future: Ramblers have a little bit of work to do, however they have some great junior players coming up through the ranks, and if they are able to retain these girls, then I think Ramblers will be a very strong side again in about four or five years time.

Meningie

Distance for players to travel for training remains one of the biggest hurdles for Meningie.

Underage players rarely stay in the town, as they move to either Murray Bridge or Adelaide for work or study, making building a consistent A grade side extremely hard.

In 2008 the team trained at a variety of locations, including Adelaide, Murray Bridge and Meningie, in an effort to help fix some of the problems they face with travelling.

Coach Matt Hood is committed to the task at hand.

He studies the games, watches oppositions, and is a willing learner as a coach. Experienced gain in 2008 as association coach of the 17s would have been invaluable for him.

Lauren Thorpe stepped up to the challenges in 2008 as captain and on-court leader, and the Gibbs girls were consistent all season in the mid court.

It was disappointing that Jane Swan did an injury mid season, as that depleted their height a little, leaving just Tracey Mitchell the only tall player in their attacking lineup.

My player of the season: Tracey Mitchell has been a focal point in goals for the team.

Her presence on the court always gives them a lift.

She has strong hands and uses her body to her advantage, and is a fairly accurate shooter.

The one to watch: Josie Saddlier is a young player with a lot of talent.

She played most of her underage netball in defence, however a switch this season into attack saw her step up to the challenge, and I almost gave her my player of the season in the Meningie side.

The future: Meningie are a talented side, are young, and have a good future before them.

I think if they were able to gain the services of a couple of key players into the side at either end to boost the player numbers and skills within the team, Meningie would be pushing for a top four finish.

Tailem Bend

Tailem Bend did not have all that good a season.

They did win one match though, and they also promoted a number of younger players into the top side.

Geemus Green was solid in defence and improved throughout the season.

She holds well in the ring, has strong hands and rebounds very well.

Sarah Durdin settled in the side and played some good netball throughout the season, as did Zoe Tomkinson in goals.

These two players are vital to the future success of Tailem.

Both were outstanding underage players, and are capable of playing consistently good netball.

Vicki McArdle and Denise Edwards have had an extremely difficult job this season in starting the rebuilding of a strong Tailem A grade side.

It will take some time, but McArdle and Edwards, given the players, have the commitment to take this group to the finals in three or four years time.

My player of the season: Without doubt Athalie MCArdle has been the standout player in this side.

She controls the mid court well, makes good use of the space around her and has matched it with some of the best opposition in the association in 2008.

The one to watch: Mel Edwards is a junior with a lot of talent, who took to the big stage this year, and excelled as a goaler as well as in the mid court.

She still has a lot to learn, but she was not intimidated by opponents twice her age, and the best is yet to come from her.

The future: To find the right combinations and the key players for vital positions is hard, and in a rebuilding phase it can be even harder.

Tailem desperately need a couple of key players in their side to complement the great lineup of young players, to enable them to once again be a top four contender.