Woorinen
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WOORINEN will be giving their talented juniors a “red hot crack” in 2024, eager to build on the hard work of the club over the past few seasons, as well as helping secure future successes.
While their home-and-away season was among the top performances across the league last year, including being the only team to beat minor premiers Lake Boga in round 17, the Tigers struggled in the finals series, eventually knocked out by the Mallee Eagles in the semi-final.
But Tigers coach Tayla Bennett said they won’t take much of that into the new year, instead focusing on creating a new, cohesive team.
“I suppose we reflected as a group the end of that home-and-away season last year, we knew what we had done wrong,” she said.
“We are just starting fresh and with kind of the same goals as we had last year, but obviously a lot more will need to go into forming all of those bonds with the newbies.
“A team is not just about each other’s talents, there is a lot of bonding. I would say that wins a premiership over skill these days, how well the team can work together on and off the court.”
The Tigers A Grade line-up will look a bit different than last season, with Carlee Hazlett sidelined with knee injury, and shooter Emily Siely having a baby.
Also expecting a baby, Bennett herself is set to be coaching from the sidelines. She said while she is disappointed she won’t be taking to the court herself, it will give her a new perspective.
“You will definitely see me pacing, I don’t know how I’m really going to go… I normally don’t cope very well when I have no control,” she said.
“I think it will give me a new challenge being off the court, and I think it is probably about time that I have new challenge in that regard of stepping up and coaching and being able to spread my time a bit more, especially with overseeing some other grades, as normally you just don’t get that opportunity while playing.”
Filling in those gaps in the team will be 15-year-old pocket rocket Ava Crow, who became an integral part of the Tigers’ midcourt last season. Bennett will also look to Tiger cubs Willow Conlan, Eva Boulton and Olivia Free to take to the court during the season.
The young players will be aided by the experience and expertise of club legend Tessa Demaria in the defence end, as well as Jaimee Beasy through the midcourt. The club will also welcome back Nikki Trenfield.
“We’re going with the term of one wise head in each third,” Bennett said.
“I think it’s time that we give these kids a red hot crack at it, because they are our future now, so let’s start encouraging them and guiding them now.
“There is so much knowledge sitting on the sideline for once. For myself, it is hard to tell Willow or Ava what to do when I’m on the court with them, so being able to sit on the sideline and give more guidance and reassurance, I feel like they will come a lot further that way.”
FROM THE COACH: “Across the board this year we are making sure we are consistent across all grades, so I feel like that is probably our goal – creating consistency and creating our little Woorinen community to be positive and to really upskill our players and upskill our coaching and bring everything together.”
PLAYER TO WATCH: Ava Crow. Although on the shorter side in stature, 15-year-old pocket rocket Crow is a weapon in the Tigers midcourt. She has a head for netball, able to read the play and strategically position herself up and down the court.
INS: Nikki Trenfield
OUTS: Emily Siely, Tayla Bennett, Stacey Pearse, Carlee Hazlett
