By and large, as much as she’ll play down her impact, those results have come off the back of Bears playing coach and goaler Kim Borger, who’s tear of form in July saw Shepparton win its 15th straight game this season, and knock off another previously unbeaten side in the process.
Borger has scored 153 goals in effectively three-and-a-half games after she played one half against Benalla in round 13, at an average of 38.3 a game.
Remove her one-half effort from the equation and, in Borger’s past three games, the former Melbourne Vixen is averaging 43 goals a game in that stretch.
However, despite Borger’s enormous individual efforts, the Bears coach is quick to thank the supply from her teammates.
“I’m lucky I’ve got the team out in front of me that provide me with really good opportunity,” Borger said.
“Ultimately, it’s a full team effort.”
That full team effort is going flawlessly to plan this season, with the Bears yet to blemish their record.
Borger puts the insurmountable winning streak down to the on and off-court connection between the playing group, but stated having a perfect record wouldn’t be worthwhile unless the Bears win on the last Saturday of the season.
“We’re a team that really enjoy each other’s company, a lot of the girls do stuff away from the netball courts as well,” Borger said.
“Our goal wasn’t to be this far down the track and undefeated, the end goal for us is to win a premiership.
“To be in this position is amazing, but that’s not our goal, we want to go that step further.”
Borger was instrumental in Shepparton’s most critical victory of the season in July, recording 47 goals in a statement win over another undefeated side, Euroa.
It was Borger’s highest scoring output all month, highlighting that when the intensity lifts, the coach will stand up to the challenge.
“The team were absolutely psyched for that game and, with the way the draw fell, we only get to play Euroa once,” Borger said.
“It was a great opportunity for me as coach to try different combinations for the majority of the game and enjoy the challenge.”
With three matches to come, two of which are against bottom six sides, the Bears are well-placed to see out the season atop the league ladder and potentially remain undefeated, while Borger will undoubtedly continue to net dozens of goals as she has done all season.
Kim Borger’s July stats
Games: 4
Goals: 153
Goals a game: 38.3
Best game: 47 goals against Euroa (round 15)
