Following an exodus of senior players and committee prior to the beginning of the season, Mathoura faced the very real possibility of recession.
Banks was reappointed as club president along with a revamped committee, and while on-field results may have been lopsided for much of the season, she is tipping a brighter future over the next two to three years.
“It’s been a tough year but you know what, we got through it,” Banks said.
“Massive thank you to the board for putting their faith in me and all the work that they’ve put in, they have just been amazing.
“Obviously thank you to the players that hung around and the players that joined. We’ve appointed our senior coaches for next year, so hopefully that will entice some people.
“It’s been a hard year but it’s been bloody positive. We’ve all kept our heads up and done the job.”
The Timbercutters round out the year with games against Picola and District League premiership contender Waaia, which sits second in the football and third in A-grade netball.
Both Mathoura outfits are out of finals contention, with the football clash set to bring a close to first-year coach Stan Gilday’s tenure of the side as Tim McCormick and Nick Ferrari assume duties from 2023.
The Timbercutters notched their sole win for the year against Yarroweyah back in round five by 101 points, while Mathoura’s A-grade outfit has navigated a disturbed pre-season to notch four wins, poised to finish the year in 12th.
While it’s often been bleak on the field for the Timbercutters, Banks said it’s not all doom and gloom.
“We’ve still got the doors open and we’ve got juniors coming through the ranks,” she said.
“It’s not doom and gloom for us. We’re just staying positive and we know that as a board in two or three years we can look back on this and say, ‘that was hard’.
“Everyone pulled together, and going into next year and beyond it looks better than it did early this year.”
The Timbercutters will send off the season in style as they are set to welcome a pair of former AFL stars to Mathoura Recreation Reserve.
Collingwood premiership player and 2011 Brownlow Medallist Dane Swan will team up with 278-game Carlton premiership legend Anthony Koutoufides to regale the crowd with their stories at Mathoura Recreation Reserve.
The Timbercutters face Waaia at Mathoura Recreation Reserve this Saturday, August 6.
