A SWATHE of new coaches and a flurry of recruits has put the eastern bloc in its best position yet to challenge the western domination of the Ballarat Netball League.
The drought for eastern teams in A grade now stretches back to Melton’s 2001 title, while a team from the Melton-Moorabool region has not claimed a netball title in any grade for years.
But the Bloods, last year’s runners-up, have reloaded to challenge again, while Sunbury has undergone a stunning rebuild to put its name among the contenders for the premiership.
Darley returns with two league best-and-fairest winners leading the charge, while a stable Bacchus Marsh and new-look Melton South are both aspiring for the top six.
Olivia Aughton, who won the league’s best and fairest gong in her first BNL season in 2011, is Darley’s playing coach this season.
The Devils bowed out to Melton in last year’s elimination final.
A Victorian Netball League regular with Boorondara Genesis, Aughton will be joined by sister Bridget this season, while reigning league medallist Talei Bari has recommitted.
“We’ve got a number of Melbourne girls who are coming up each week, but we’re not stacking the team with recruits,” Aughton said.
“We’ve got some good young talent that deserve to have a crack.
“We’ve probably got a squad of 20 (for A grade selection). I sat down with the coaches and said that much like a football team, it should be selected each week on performances.”
Sunbury has been the biggest mover in the off-season, with eight new players added to its A grade roster.
Most were involved in either last year’s Riddell District league premiership at Macedon, or one or both of Romsey’s 2010-11 back-to-back titles.
Defender Rebecca Locker (Romsey) and former Sunbury player Hayley Mackie (Macedon) headline the inclusions.
Brooke Thompson won the league medal on her return to Melton last season and will again be at the heart of any Bloods challenge after last year’s trip to the grand final.
Amy Conroy has played an extended season with the Ballarat League’s central highlands regional state league team and will be a key in the mid-court, alongside playing coach Krista Woodroffe.
Another returning coach is Bacchus Marsh’s Frank Pawlowicz, whose Cobras team has been a consistent finalist and has been as far as the preliminary final with many of this year’s playing group. Prolific goaler Susan Dalmau will lead the attack, while Linda Powell and Jacinta Reid add to a stable core of players.
Melton South sank to 10th with a 2-14 record last year, ending a two-year run of staying in the finals mix until the latter rounds of the season. Bon Tai is the new coach at the Panthers this year.
All five eastern bloc teams play this weekend in games brought forward to the opening weekend, while round one proper is on Saturday, April 20.
GAMES BROUGHT FORWARD
Melton South v Bacchus Marsh (1.15pm)
Sunbury v Melton (1.15pm)
Sebastopol v Darley (3.20pm)
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