A mixture of experience and youth is the key as Riddell District Netball League chases success at the AFL Victoria Country Championships on Saturday.
The team of 10 players includes five from last year’s team, while eight of the side have previously represented the league at various competitions.
Melton Centrals’ Renee Hulls and Tran Troung, Rupertswood’s Ailish McCormack, Romsey’s Hope Hamilton and Riddell’s Christine Harris return from last year’s interleague team.
Riddell’s Danni Davidson is back in the squad after playing interleague in 2013 and playing in the league’s Regional State League (RSL) side last season.
Harris and McCormack, and Rupertswood’s Tess Abbott and Emily Ktona, were in the league’s RSL side which lost in overtime to the Ballarat Netball League in the Central Highlands grand final earlier this year.
The two new players in the team are Riddell’s Bridget Aughton and Kilmore’s Samantha George.
Interleague coach Di McCormack said she was excited by the squad, which will play against the Nepean Netball League.
“To have Bridget [a Victorian Netball League player] in the squad is really great and it’s her first time representing the league.” she said. “I’m looking forward to having her in the defensive end with Tess and Danni, which provides an experienced back half.
“I coached Christine in the RSL competition and I know how she plays. With Renee and Hope she will provide solid targets in the circle.”
McCormack said George would be the surprise packet for her, having seen her play only once last season when her team, Rupertswood, played Kilmore.
George, coach of Kilmore’s A-grade side, won the competition’s B-grade best and fairest in 2013 when Kilmore didn’t have an A-grade side.
She said it was encouraging to see Ailish and Ktona get another opportunity in the senior side. Both are still eligible to play in the under-17 side.
“It’s good to have feedback that Hope and Renee enjoyed playing with Ailish last year,” she said.
“Em came into the RSL side and copped a beating, but got straight back up. She has matured a lot and has learnt to value her position on the court.”
Ktona plays for Rupertswood’s B-grade side.McCormack said that if she didn’t have a full list that she would play Ktona in A-grade every week.
