After Souths' three-season stranglehold on the Newcastle open netball championships, West Leagues Balance 1 have set a new benchmark in the competition with back-to-back grand final glory over the Lions. There has been plenty of off-season player movement with many believing this could be the strongest season on record. This is how the teams are looking ahead of the opening round on Saturday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
West Leagues Balance 1
Coach: Tracey Baggs
Last season: Unbeaten on the way to clinching back-to-back championships
Squad news: The defending title-holders have lost goalkeeper Kimberly Goodearl for the season but have replaced her with NSW premier league player Karli Ireland. Coach Tracey Baggs has retained the bulk of her winning side, including captain and midcourter Sophie Buckley and goal defence Mikenzie McManus. She has brought up goal shooter Tarsha Hawley from the West 2 side as they shoot for a third straight crown.
Comment: "I'm excited that the competition keeps strengthening. This year we had 10 teams that nominated to be in the eight. To me that shows the strength of the competition now. With a few player movements, a few from Souths across to Nova, I think Nova are going to be a major competition this year." - West 1 coach Tracey Baggs
Souths Lions
Coach: Trude Yen
Last season: Finished second, lost grand final to West Leagues Balance 1
Squad news: The Lions have lost circle defender Georgia McVey, wing attack Eliza Lewis and goal shooter Brooke Fennings to Nova. They have picked up 16-year-old Zoe Peden, who has come through Souths' junior ranks, and fellow midcourt player Aneeka Marcozzi, from Forsythes. They have also picked up Danielle Taylor and Ebony Oakley from Souths Pride, who were relegated from the open championship. The Lions retain former national league players Narelle Eather and Tiffany Gilmour plus Katelyn Stansfield, Tianna Cummings, Nikita Jackson and wing defence Eliza Hand.
Comment: "We've still got a very strong team. A lot of our players are playing premier league still. We've got metro league players and state players. It's the combination of some really great players. The only challenge for us is to make sure they start to work together as a team when they come together as Lions. The goal is to win." - Souths coach Trude Yen
Forsythes Business Advisors
Coach: Traci Baber
Last season: Finished top four, lost preliminary final to Souths
Squad news: They are looking strong again with seven Newcastle open representative players in their ranks. Forsythes have lost midcourter Anna Atkinson, who has relocated to Queensland, but taking her place will be experienced player Kim Williams from West. Williams joins sister Angela in the side. The recruitment of Erin Asquith from Maryville bolsters Forsythes' shooting stocks further, joining Sabina Gomboso and Bronte McGinn. Key players on board again will be defender Keely Mullins, Rian O'Hara, Karlie Robards, Veronica Smith and Ellie McVey.
Comment: "I'm very happy with the squad. We have had a few injuries in the past two weeks, which isn't a great start. But prior to that I would have said it's probably the strongest squad I've ever had and very versatile and I've got most things covered." - Forsythes coach Traci Baber
BNC Whanau
Coach: Cherie Aoake-Puru
Last season: Made the semi-finals. Lost elimination semi-final to Forsythes Business Advisors
Squad news: They have recruited former Australian under-19 player Kellyann Grayson, a goal attack, and circle defender Viana Bainvalu. Both bring experience and skill to the side and add depth. They retain the likes of Victoria Aoake, Sam Belcher and Katy Lobston and are keen to improve on last year's effort.
Comment: "There's been a shift already with the teams and I think that's going to give us all a bit of an even playing field. We've brought more depth into the squad this year and we are hoping to go one better. Kellyann Grayson will bring a completely different angle for us." - BNC coach Cherie Aoake-Puru
Nova Queens Wharf Thunder
Coaches: Katie Robinson and Desley Cowan
Last season: Finished fifth
Squad news: They have added height in goal shooter Brooke Fennings, who with Georgia McVey and Eliza Lewis join Nova from Souths. Former national league midcourter Katie Robinson remains in a coaching role as well as playing and believes the side can break through for a top-four appearance this year.
Comment: "We've got our sights set on the semi-finals pretty clearly this year. We've got a few new recruits and it takes time for those new combinations to come together, so it still feels a little bit rusty. We're not too stressed about the first half of the season but I reckon come the second half things might be coming along pretty nicely." - Nova coach Katie Robinson
Maryville Tavern
Coach: Rachel Gardner
Last season: Finished sixth
Squad news: They have lost midcourters Erin Wynn and Viv Rendina to seasons off and goal attack Erin Asquith to Forsythes but picked up defender Annie Neenan from their A-grade side. They have also recruited defender Maddie Mueller, who played a handful of matches for Maryville last season and has been described by player-coach and midcourter Rachel Gardner as an "exciting" prospect. The Maryville side will be led by Gardner, who has stepped in as coach this year, and retain experience in the likes of defenders Emily Leto, Tracey Patton and Rachel Dunn.
Comment: "We've got that blend of young players and a bit of experience and I think we've got a lot of talent across the court. It will just be a big focus on our own game to not have those rushes of blood and treasure our possession. I feel like defensively we will be quite strong and our defence should win us a lot of ball and it will be up to our attackers to really treasure that possession and capitalise on it." - Maryville coach Rachel Gardner
West Leagues Balance 2
Coach: Fiona Maughan
Last season: Seventh
Squad news: West 2 have picked up new faces in up and coming midcourter Abbey Carr from Souths Pride plus defender Bec Hawkins and shooter Kim Trayhurn from West A grade. They have also recruited shooter Ally McLean, who has moved to Newcastle from Dubbo. Leading the charge for West 2 again will be the likes of wing attack Krystal Dallinger and shooter Kelly Wilson.
Comment: "I think the main goals would be to be in grand finals, I think that's everyone's goal, but the main thing is just to work our way there and build ourselves. I think we have a few really strong players in each third and there will be a lot of strengths all through the court." - West 2 player Krystal Dallinger
Junction Hotel
Coach: Kirsty Allan
Last season: Won A grade and gained promotion back into the open championship
Squad news: They have retained seven players from their 2018-winning side in A grade. They include goal shooters Claire Kowald and Kirsty Allan, who will coach this season, and midcourters Khianni Hepburn and Jessica Jennings. Junction have picked up "dynamic" and versatile player Brytne Bunnett, who was a Northern Territory 19s player, and midcourter Megan Aspinall.
Comment: "It's going to be a very tough competition. There have been a lot of player changes and it's going to be an interesting and close competition. Previously there's been a definite top four and bottom four but I don't think that's going to be the case. No game is going to be easy. Having kept seven players from the team who won last year and strengthened with the likes of Brytne and those other additions, hopefully we'll hold our own and we're aiming to win some games and give those top teams, like West and Souths, a run for their money." - Junction Netball Club president and team manger Helen Wilson
Related content:
Round one, Sunday:
2.30pm: West Leagues Balance 2 v Junction Hotel; West Leagues Balance 1 v Forsythes Business Advisors
3.45pm: Maryville Tavern v Nova Queens Wharf Thunder; Souths Lions v BNC Whanau.
While you're with us the Newcastle Herald is offering sport readers 20% off an annual digital subscription. Sign up to stay up to date with all the local sports you love. Terms and conditions apply - www.theherald.com.au/winter-sports-promo/
