THE Big V Women’s season has wrapped for 2022, with an ultra-entertaining fixture resulting in some big wins, close finishes and outstanding individual performances.

In Rookie Me Central’s season review series, we will be taking a look at how each side fared throughout the year and how their respective seasons panned out as a whole.

Next up are the Chelsea Gulls, who conjured a handful of victories throughout the year, but could not string enough together to produce a winning streak and move up the ladder.

Chelsea Gulls
2022 record – 5-16

The Gulls showed a bit throughout their 2022 campaign, but it was far from enough as they fell to second-last on the ladder with 16 losses on the year. They finished eight games behind a finals appearance, and have room for improvement in the coming months.

Things could not have got off to a better start for the Gulls, kicking off their 2022 season with an impressive win over the eventual champions in Wyndham to the tune of 11 points and jumping towards the top of the ladder. Chelsea ended up falling to McKinnon the following week, but was competetive and still looked a strong chance to be among the contenders.

Round 3 was as successful as it gets for the Gulls, posting consecutive wins in the same weekend and maintaining their status as one of the genuine championship favourites. With a game style that delivered on both ends, Chelsea looked destined for a winning record.

However, it did not eventuate, winning just one more game for the season (against Southern Peninsula in Round 7) and slipping down the standings in rapid fashion. Their defensive work slipped as the Gulls began conceding scores of 80 or more on a weekly basis, which was not good enough against the best sides, falling to seventh spot by season’s end.

Luckily for Chelsea, there is a blueprint for its success, given how strong it started the year. While the Gulls lost some talent as the season wore on, they still had a large group of players that were crucial to the success of the team early on.

If they can hone in on the structures that saw them grab a 2-1 record early in the season, then there is no reason this side cannot bounce back in 2023.

Despite a disappointing campaign as a team, Lee Burch had a big season from an individual perspective. She averaged 11.81 points per game and was a pillar of consistency for the Gulls, particularly when they desperately needed a bucket.

While there is still some work for Chelsea to do ahead of the 2023 tip-off, it will still have the confidence from last season in its ability to get the job done and move into title contention.