COHUNA
JUNIOR development is a key focus for Cohuna in 2024, hoping a blend of young players with the experience of some older ones will be a recipe for success.
The Kangas’ season was far from perfect last year, only managing to get four wins on the board for a 9th place finish.
Returning to the court this season and taking on the role of head coach for the first time, Georgia Anderson believes their A Grade squad has a lot more depth, with a lot of their junior players moving up into senior grades with a change to the U18s competition becoming an U17s competition.
“Due to our locality, we find it very hard to recruit, so with the declining population and what not, we do have to focus on our young girls heavily,” Anderson said.
“For as long as I’ve been here, for the last three or four years, we haven’t made finals because we just haven’t been good enough, and we’ve been relying on girls to just continue rocking up each year who haven’t been up to it, we have been slugging it out.
“So we are excited about our young girls – they have heaps of potential, and their skills are so good.”
Some of those junior players that will join the A Grade ranks include Ebony Black and Sammi Moon, both of who have already had a taste of senior netball as fill-ins last season.
The depth of their squad will also be aided by incoming players Carly Geary from Bendigo, while Taylor Hird and Delainey Holmes are both returning to the club after playing their junior netball with the Kangas.
Last year’s best and fairest Kobie McIvor will be back in the goal circle once again, while midcourter Annie Toma is set to clock her 200th game for the club this season.
Anderson herself will also take to the court again this year, bringing ample experience to the Kangas defence end, boasting several A Grade premierships with various other clubs.
“Overall we have got depth, which we are really happy with, our skills and our development is already on the incline, and we have got a really positive outlook and attitude for the club,” Anderson said.
Off the court, Anderson has been focusing on encouraging a positive and upbeat club culture across the entire netball group. She believes that starts with the locals.
“I really preached this year that if you live in Cohuna, you can play for Cohuna,” she said.
“I didn’t want anybody having to think they have to try out for their home club – if you live here, we want you here.
“As a club, from my perspective, I’ve needed to implement a new attitude and new beliefs for the club, so we can look at what success really means on and off the court for our club and community.
“My hope is that we can adjust the culture, and then adjust our success and its progression towards success.”
FROM THE COACH: “What I have just focused on this year is development, so making sure that those young girls that are coming up are continuing to develop their skills, and making sure they are seamlessly integrating into the women’s league.”
PLAYER TO WATCH: Ebony Black: The young defender is a key component of the Kangas’ defence end, with her height and agility making her a shooters’ nightmare. As she steps up to the senior ranks full time this season, her skills will only continue to strengthen.
INS: Delainey Holmes, Georgia Anderson, Taylor Hird, Carly Geary, Lilly-May Guerin.
OUTS: Danielle Sawyer, Carmen Dye.
