After taking some big steps forward in the final rounds last season, Tooleybuc-Manangatang could well prove to be the Central Murray’s big improvers in 2025, with a young squad hungry for success set to continue their progression.
Veteran coach Melanie Wait will take the reins once again after the Saints finished 10th last year with a three-win, 13-loss record.
While Tooleybuc-Manangatang’s overall record may not make for great reading, it was their final month of the season that has given Saints fans cause for optimism, winning two of the last four matches against NNW United and Cohuna and recording hard fought losses to Balranald and eventual premiers Lake Boga.
With those results in mind, and having retained their squad from last season, Wait is bullish about what lies ahead for her club.
“I think our depth will improve this season and we’ll be running a few different combinations at the start of the year to see what works best and see where everyone fits,” Wait said.
“We’ve had a bit of a focus on being fitter over the pre-season, the girls have all been working on their fitness and intensity and we’ve been spending a lot of time on getting the basics right, so that come game day, it all just falls into place.
“I just want them to play as a good, strong, united team that supports each other and has that desire to want to push each other to improve.
“I think that’s where our improvement is going to come from, our ability to gel as a team and hopefully we can play some really good netball.”
With a predominately young squad at her disposal, Wait is also pleased to see the return of Laura Zanker to her line-up, along with experienced duo Laura Grant and Zoe Livingston, who proved to be valuable mid-season recruits last year.
Although Livingston won’t be available every week, Grant and Zanker will be, with their experience and knowledge set to be an invaluable asset for Wait.
“Having Zoe and the two Lauras will really add some depth to our squad, as well as maturity that you only get from playing years of netball,” Wait said.
“Having that level head that can and that experience is important with a young team as it just makes them stand a little bit taller.
“The confidence and the leadership they bring to the group as well, especially Laura (Grant), she leads by example, even at training, she just works hard and sets a good example for the younger girls.”
Grant will most likely partner Olivia Fowler in defence, while Livingston will run through the midcourt alongside another pair of young guns in Jayda Plant and Ella Foley, with Summer Blachford and Rhiann O’Meara set to play in the Saints’ attacking third.
Although Wait is expecting big things from her experienced trio, it’s the younger members of her squad where the Saints will see improvement, with Plant and Fowler having finished first and second in their club best and fairest last year and further showing positive signs over the past six months.
“In terms of this season, they (Plant and Fowler) are the ones that need to start coming into their own, they’ve both had some good senior experience and I’m really excited to see what they can do now that they are a bit older and a bit more confident,” Wait said.
“It’s easy to forget how young they are, Jayda (Plant) is only 16 for example, but they are just so sensible and mature for their age, the physicality doesn’t bother them and it’s great to watch them go about their work.
“Jayda has been doing Murray region with me and she’s been doing some work at the gym, she’s a lot stronger and faster than this time last year and ‘Liv’ (Fowler) has improved in those areas too.
“Summer (Blachford) is only young, so is Ella Foley and Rhiann (O’Meara), realistically they are all young and getting them to work together and work on playing well as a unit will be really important.”
TOOLEYBUC-MANANGATANG FAST FACTS
JOINED LEAGUE – 1997
COURTS – Tooleybuc Recreation Reserve
PREMIERSHIPS – None
A GRADE COACH – Melanie Wait
2024 LADDER POSITION – 10th
2024 BEST & FAIREST – Jayda Plant
FROM THE COACH
“I think if we can get our combinations right, we’ll be really competitive. I think there’s been lots of change across the league so it will be interesting to see how the season falls, but I’d like to think we’ll be much more competitive than we have been. We haven’t really got any big guns coming, but I think natural improvement and another year playing together should see us much better placed than last season.”
PLAYER TO WATCH
Jayda Plant
Won Tooleybuc-Manangatang’s A grade best and fairest last season after a breakout year in the centre for the Saints.
With another pre-season under her belt and having played with the Murray Region at the Victorian State Netball Titles, Plant is not only expected to take her game to even greater heights in 2025, but have a big say in her teams climb up the ladder.
Quick, fit and possessed with impeccable passing skills, Plant is the all important conduit between defence and attack for the Saints.
IN’S
Laura Zanker
OUT’S
None
