SWAN HILL
Profile
SWAN Hill’s 2023 premiership win was one for the ages – an emotionally-charged, physically draining victory that will long live in the memories of everyone who took to the court that day.
But despite the hype of their success, premiership-winning coach Madeleine Nalder said it is not something she wants her team to take with them into the new season, but rather leave the past in the past.
“To be honest, I sort of feel like, from our perspective, that was last year, and that was amazing, but this year is a new year,” she said.
“We will be a different team, we will be playing against different competition, so what has gone on in previous years, I wouldn’t say it’s irrelevant, but it’s a new year, so we can’t dwell on past successes.”
Coaching alongside Kelsey McCoy and Mollie Quin again this season, Nalder’s main focus at the moment is building a new, unified team that will give them the best chance at a back-to-back premiership.
The Swans will be without Best on Court premiership player Ingrid Condely, whose smarts in the goal circle will be sorely missed. Kelsey McCoy, although coaching, will be sidelined this season as well after suffering a devastating ACL injury during the grand final match.
“Obviously all those girls that won’t be playing in our side or at our club from last year is a huge loss, but with that comes opportunity for us – for other players to step up, for juniors to get an opportunity, and for us to start to move in a different direction as a club,” Nalder said.
“Although they are obviously big shoes to fill with lots of the players that aren’t going to be taking the court in 2024, but it’s a great opportunity for us as a club to build something new and give more opportunity.”
One of the new players the Swans have recruited is former Moulamein coach and Balranald premiership player Stevie Bibby, who will be a great asset to the defence end.
Most of the rest of last year’s premiership-winning team will return to the court in 2024, bringing with them years of experience and a high level of skills. This will include Kelly Bonney, Karli McIntyre, Zoe Morris, Carly-Marie Clark and, of course, Nalder herself.
A number of the Swans junior players will also be joining the senior ranks this season, such as Peyton Cutrell, Gabby Atkinson and Ella Vrolijks.
As the final weeks of preseason loom, Nalder is looking to start working on the new combinations that will form across the court, wanting her team to be as put together as possible by round 1.
“I guess everyone who plays team sports, we all want to play on grand final day, I feel like that is why we do it,” Nalder said.
“But really, we’re just trying to focus on cementing what we are doing and who we’ve got and trying to build a really good culture, squad and group early on to take us into the 2024 season.”
FROM THE COACH: “It’s still a busy time of year for lots of people in that changeover period, but we’re excited about the 2024 season and what that will look like and what they will bring.”
PLAYER TO WATCH: Zoe Morris – Returning to the Swans in great style last season, taking home a premiership and a Best and Fairest, Morris will again be a key component of her team’s line-up, and certainly one to watch in the goal circle.
INS: Stevie Bibby (Moulamein), Paris Stewart, Jade Hunter, Skye Kelly (Woorinen)
OUTS: Ingrid Condely, Kelsey McCoy
