They came out of their first five games with a 1-4 record but there was a clear brand of basketball being formed in Geelong. Pili told The IX: “Coach Chris [Lucas] was just kind of just staying on us to stay sharp and clean up those little things during practice and things like that. I mean, everybody knew, like, we’re right there. We’re not losing these games by 20 and getting blown out and stuff like that. So I think that kind of kept everybody positive and working towards fixing those things in order to get those wins.”

One such game came against title favourite Perth Lynx on November 1. The Venom fell by one point as Holmes hit a potential game winner after time had expired. In this game, the Venom were without Heal, Pili or Mackenzie Clinch Hoycard, three of their biggest additions over the offseason, while they faced off against a full strength Lynx. In the post game press conference, head coach Chris Lucas said: “Look, I’m actually disappointed for the girls because they did fight. I thought our defensive effort second half was terrific.”

As is often the case with Lucas, he was firm but fair, adding, “we just didn’t reward ourselves in back end of the game. 10 from 18 from the foul line is just not acceptable at this level.”

That defensive identity has been a conduit in the Venom rallying through a tumultuous start to the season. In Pili’s words, “The way we responded these last couple games from having a little stretch of losing games. How hard everybody plays, like, it’s fun to watch. That’s the kind of team that you want to be a part of. I think the way that we’ve [played] on the defensive end has been super huge for us winning those games and just being physical, making it hard for other teams. That’s something I would say I’m really proud of this team for doing.”

It’s a credit to Lucas’ attention to detail and a hard working attitude that starts at training from the head of the snake. Pili shared, “It starts at practice. I think the tone is set there, everybody’s playing hard, we’re competing against each other. Our captains, Jaz and Alex, they’ve [been] big with our success and leading the team. They’re really good captains in a way that’s not like they’re just trying to take everything over and run the team. Everybody has certain insights and everybody’s kind of taking a role in in leadership and just doing what’s best for the team to be successful. I think everybody has played a big role in working hard and that part of our identity has a team.”

Identity and defence are a through line in this team. This might usually be seen as a defensive identity, but the intention in which players and coaches speak about them separately lends them to be categorised separately. It also extends beyond the x’s and o’s as they celebrate their wins with a centre court selfie.

Their game plan starts on the defensive end. Lilly Rotunno and Jaz Shelley are picking up the opposing point full court. On the wings, the likes of Elissa Brett and Gemma Potter are in the passing lanes and pressuring the ball up to the hash mark. The perimeter defenders test the rule book to its limits all game long and force the officials into a difficult position. Then the ball makes its way inside to either Mackenzie, Holmes or “Big Mack” (Clinch Hoycard) who are protecting the rim. Defence ends with rebounding and in Sharp and Holmes, the Venom have two of the leagues seven best rebounders. Clinch Hoycard bolsters these depths off the pine and Pili will strengthen this even more in her return.

This foundation has been laid with Pili and Heal inactive, with the latter having missed the entire preseason and training camp due to an injury to her left MCL, PCL and patella. She shared an update on her injury and the challenges she has been facing with The IX:

“I’m injured, I’ve been out for five months and just, you know, I’m two steps behind on everything. It’s going to take me a bit of time to get back up to speed and play how I usually do, but that’s probably been the biggest challenge for me. While I’ve been injured I was still writing down all the plays and doing all that. So I’m not too far behind in that aspect, but it’s more the physical aspect that I really couldn’t help.”

She touched on the other sides of Geelong’s identity: “I think our grit and fight has just been so impressive. We’ve only lost one game by a big margin. All the rest have been pretty close or we’ve won. To do that with two starters out you’re just showing the league that we can we can really beat anyone and [our] fight to the very end has just been so impressive, so that’s probably my main takeaway.”

It was make or break in the early season as per the lack of bodies Lucas had to call upon. They somehow turned this negative into a positive. The fight, ‘next player up’ mentality, reliability across the roster and overall grit has been imperative to steering the ship back on course. This hasn’t only been crucial in the early season, but could be a secret weapon at the pointy end or even in the postseason.

When pondering her teams grit, Heal posited, “I mean, personally, that’s how I play, so I’m going to fit in pretty well.
 But we have people like Gemma, who are just so good defensively getting stops for us, bring so much energy and that kind of translates throughout the whole group. Then you’ve got Lilly who’s up the floor playing defence and it kind of just spreads like wildfire and it’s been so good to see you so far.”

Heal also echoed Pili’s sentiments with the tone being set at practice and carried into games: “it starts at training. So focussing on the things that we really need to work on at training, so then we can ride that momentum into the game still and come out and get some more wins. But our group has been pretty positive, even with our losses. We know we’re undermanned right now, but we have people stepping up and I think people on our team know that we’re undermanned, but we’re still staying positive and sticking together, which has been really nice to see.”

The Venom are now in fourth with a 3-4 record and the second best percentage in the league, at 104.7%. Percentage is points scored divided by points allowed and is a binding marker across all sporting codes in Australia. It is often pointed to as where a team truly stands within its league, even beyond their win-loss record.

Dig a little deeper and three of their four losses have come against the three teams ahead of them during an injured patch, with that fourth loss being the season opener against the Sydney Flames when Pili went down. Given their circumstances, they’re taking care of business and only on the up. Their fortunes are turning with the two game win streak, having just posted the following on Instagram:

Shyla is back and she’s been taking notes as to what she’s bringing with her. “That point guard position, just controlling the team. I’m definitely going to be bringing a bit more scoring power, that’s my game. It’s going to take me, you know, a few weeks to really get going and become myself again after so long on the sidelines. But with so much talent around me, I’m going to be able to facilitate and pick times to go, but pick times to create for my teammates, which really becomes fun.”

On what excites her in her personal return to basketball, she added, “playing with this group of girls, we have so much talent, but also, we’re so selfless. Everyone wants to share the ball. Everyone can score, but making that extra pass. It just looks like a really exciting team to play with so, yeah, I’m really looking forward to it.”

Her excitement is palpable and her skillset both enhance the teams identity and add some much needed firepower. As the team is shoring this up defensively, the offensive execution will be something to keep tabs on with Heal’s return, with the hope that Pili isn’t too far behind.

As for Pili’s return, she shared, “I’m progressing pretty quickly. First week after surgery was kind of slow, just not able to move around much, but now I’m moving around much better and starting to do more stuff for rehabbing, so it’s going really good right now.”

On the holes she’ll be filling, Pili noted, “I think just being a physical presence inside, setting screens, I think that’s big been a big part of what Chris has been trying to get us to do. And rebounding as well.”

The space and opportunity creation from Pili will be huge in securing more possessions and working towards more efficiency in each possession. Her screen setting will create space for her teammates and herself, with her three point shooting being another tool for the team. Her physical presence and rebounding will help in their immediate ways, as well as establishing Geelong in the paint and turn this part of the floor into one they can play on their terms.

Whether it’s spreading like wildfire or it’s snowballing, the momentum this roster can generate from anywhere makes them a problem for any opponent. To exit this first third of the season at 3-4 is something to celebrate internally, but with the rest of the league starting slowly as well it only helps Geelong as they currently sit on the right side of the table. They’re setting themselves up well to catch their stride in the last third of the regular season. The Venom could be hiding in plain sight, ready to strike on their own terms.