Welcome to the Mulwala netball season for 2012. Congratulations must be given to the success of the 2011 season with 7 out of 8 teams making the finals, two of them making it to the preliminary final stage and two to the grand final with one exciting premiership victory in A grade and a so close runners up in C grade. Our netballers had a great year individually as well with league best and fairest winners, league top ten voter getters for the best and fairest awards and league representative accolades.
Season 2012 looks again to be an exciting one with some great coaching appointments and some great recruits coming into the club. I have a saying that success and professionalism at the club and team level generates interest and this has been proven for 2012 so far.
Our 12/U team will be coaches by our legend, premiership player and coach Jo McCarthy. Jo coached this team last year and the amount of development these girls achieved throughout the year was unbelievable. Jo’s experience with this age group is definitely paying off and will help the girls develop into bigger and better players as they progress through the age groups.
The 13/U team is being coach by Katrina Kennedy. Katrina has years of netball experience winning many accolades when playing for the Lions as well as other clubs at various levels. Her experience coaching the 12’s with Jo last year will hold the girls stepping up into this age group in good stead. We wish many of these players (who are still eligible to play in the 12’s) all the best.
Shandelle Purtle has stepped into the 15/U coaching role. Shani is a club legend without a doubt and her numerous years of playing at the top level and coaching various age groups should excite the 10 girls who are under her wing this year. The 15's are aiming to make the finals this year and then see where it goes from there.
Mary Munro has put up her hand to coach the 17/U team which is looking to be a very talented bunch. Talented netballers have been welcomed into this team this year and these girls are aiming high. As long as these girls are willing to put in the hard yards as a team, finals success should come their way.
In the senior grades I again am coaching the A grade side which has lost our talented goaling duo in Jo McCarthy and Rachel Clarke, but has recruited the exciting Kate Lynch from the Geelong Netball League. Cara Wood has returned to the club and is fit and ready to go and Ej and Nat and Marissa have put their hand up to step up into the Murray League level and the A grade spaces. Watch out for these recruits!!!!
Kim James will coach the B grade side which with some handy additions from other leagues and lower grades, will look to go one step further and make the grandfinal this year. Jade Panter has stepped up to play B grade this year and will pass on her developing knowledge onto the C grade side. C grade see’s many new faces, but all still have the same goals to be as successful as they always are and win that premiership. We welcome all the new girls to the club and hope they enjoy their year.
Shandelle Purtle has agreed to take on playing and coaching the C reserve team which includes a team of great experience mixed with some of the clubs great young ones including some mother daughter combinations. I think this team will do well this year and the girls will learn so much from Shani, Casey and Robyn who are all previous premiership players with the lions.
Finally I’d like to wish all involved this year the very best of luck for the 2012 season. Personally I’d like to also thank the many people within the footy and netball club who provided Nathan, Baby Taj and myself with so much support, assistance and understanding since my illness on October last year. We are looking full steam ahead now and hoping that 2012 is a great year for all!!!!
FORTUNE FAVOURS THE BRAVE .............GO LIONS !!!!!!!!!!!
Casey Hudgson
Last Modified on 12/04/2012 16:11