The Riddell District Netball League has named an experienced line up for its AFL Victoria Worksafe Community Championships clash with West Gippsland next weekend.
The RDNL will host West Gippsland at Tony Clarke Oval and after a disappointing result last year against Alberton, are looking to return to the winners list.
The side will be coached by Macedon coach Ciara Stewart. Stewart was appointed to the role after being named RDNL coach of the year last year.
Stewart said they had opted for experience due to the team only have one training session together. The same side will also compete at the association championships later in the year.
“The first option was to have the team of year players be part of it,” she said. “The team was built off that but with a number of those players not in the league anymore and a short time frame it wasn’t entirely possible.
“The RDNL hasn’t been successful in a while. We’re going out to win it.”
The team is headlined by former Australian Diamond Natasha Chokljat.
She’s joined by Diggers Rest teammates Amy Carroll and Toni Lind. Romsey’s Hope Evans and Danni Davidson, Macedon’s Chloe Wilson, Katie Clarke and Janelle Birch, Lancefield’s Anica Scherer, and Rupertswood recruits Prue Stanley and Rebecca Anstey have also been selected.
Stewart, who was named in the team of the year last season, said she was unsure whether she would play in the game too.
She said she was honoured to be selected to coach the side.
“I’d love to get a run, but I’m not going to do it if it’s not best for the team.”
Stewart said they knew how they went would depend on how they gelled at training and on the day. Last year the RDNL consisted of primarily VNL players but the team struggled on game day.
It’s a different looking team from last season, with no one from that team playing this year. Evans had been selected in last year’s team but missed the game due to injury.
The league also announced the under-17 netball team. The side which will be coached by Michelle Rix consists of Sunbury Lions’ Sharna Ford, Keara Fitzgerald and Gemma Denman, Rupertswood’s
Sarah Hanson, Eliose Freeman and Leshae Hogan, Lancefield’s Larissa Rix and Gen Zoch, Woodend-Hesket’s Mackenzie Brown and Riddell’s Kirby Elliott.
