Netball
19 April, 2024
Horsham Saints start title defence
The Horsham Saints netballers will start their title defence at Coughlin Park when they host Stawell in round one of the Wimmera Football Netball League tomorrow.
In what is a scary proposition for opposing teams, the Horsham Saints senior netball team hasn't changed much at all and is in a strong place to defend their premiership from 2023.
Co-coached by Jess Cannane and Elly Barnett, they have a lot of young talent coming through the ranks such as U17 players Maddison Bethune and Cara Tippet, as well as Taya Quick coming from Natimuk.
The other big news is Jorja Clode will be able to play every game and is only growing as a player having nearly made the state team in the off-season and being named a training partner for the Bendigo Strikers Under-23 netball team.
Cannane is excited to be part of a strong group again and is looking forward to getting out there.
"It's a really exciting time only being a few days out from round one. We have been training since the end of last year and it will be nice to get back into it," Cannane said.
Minyip Murtoa hosts Nhill at Minyip Recreation Reserve. Kirby Knight leads a strong Burra contingent in her first year as senior coach, where she will coach A and B Grade.
Knight returns to the club following a stint with Learmonth where she won a premiership. Knight has coached juniors and C Grade before and is relishing the opportunity of coaching this season at a club she loves.
"It's a big opportunity for me and I am looking forward to coaching a great group of girls through both grades," Knight said.
There are a lot of new and returning faces for the Burras and there is some young talent coming up through the ranks.
Ash Rintoul and Tamika Mentha are back at the club. They also have four sisters playing - Claudia, Matilda, Johanna and Isabella Griffiths, which excites Knight. Laura Schuckar, TJ Kerrins and Lauren Dodgshun are also some of the other players who are back.
Tracey Bell and Emma Hawker are co-coaching the A Grade this year. Ellen Bennett and Larnie Hobbs are returning and Claudia Mcrae is coming back from a knee reconstruction.
Courtney Hillier is a new face and Elly Schumann from Jeparit Rainbow is also a new face who will be strong in defence.
Ararat will look to bounce back from their Good Friday loss when they host Horsham at Alexandra Oval.
The Demons have bolstered their list in 2024 and are expected to be up there again.
Some of the new faces include Tahlia Thompson from Pimpinio, Britt Burns from Harrow Balmoral and Georgia Lowe from Noradjuha Quantong.
Ebonie Salter takes the reins as coach this year after returning to the club as a player last season.
At Sir Robert Menzies Park, the Southern Mallee Thunder and Warrack Eagles go head to head in the Thunder's debut in the league.
Leiah McKenzie has stepped into coaching for the first time this year for the Eagles and is a co-coach with Jess Erhardt.
They have an abundance of youngsters highlighted by Ava Koschitzke, Satine Malcolm, Lauren Clyne, Isabella Orszulak and Amber O'Connor.
The Thunder netballers are coached by Jodie Hayes, a Heather Hatcher Medalist and Steph Thomson, a premiership player and 2023 WFNL goal attack of the year.
Gabbi Rule has moved over from Birchip-Watchem in the NCNL and Connie Rule has signed and is a defender but is versatile and can play any position on the wing.
Caitlin Douglas will be traveling from Adelaide every week to play for the Thunder. Douglas is a two-time premiership player and can play at both ends of the court as a GD or GA.
Sydney Thorogood joins the club from Nhill in a big coup for the Thunder. She can play both ends, either as a GK or GS.