A view to the future, while still pushing to play finals, will be a clear focus for Tyntynder under new coaches Bridget Dedini and Monica Ellis in 2025.
It will be a vastly different looking Bulldogs side to the one which lost last year’s elimination final to the Mallee Eagles, with Kelsey Rowe departing the club for the Eagles, along with Nichola Miliano and Ellis, who will coach in a non-playing capacity.
Although Tyntynder will still have plenty of experience on all lines, they will also turn to their bevy of talented juniors to take the next step, with Dedini hoping a season or two plying their trade in the A grade will also help fast track their development.
“Milla Nalder is one that has been really consistent with her pre-season this year and she will definitely get her chance in goals,” Dedini said.
“We also have some really strong and talented under 15s from last season and there’s likely to be a few of those girls that will get a senior game throughout the year, like Violet Corrie and Chloe Nalder for example.
“But Milla (Nalder) in particular, I think it would be nice for her to play A grade, because she’s put in a really solid effort over the last few months and we’re looking to reward those who are prepared to put in the work.”
“I think that overall, we have a team of girls that want to better themselves and everyone that’s there seems really positive.
“I would say our strengths will just be with the combination of our team, rather than an individual person, just based on the way the team is gelling and combining together over pre-season so far.”
Former NNW United and Wandella defender Zoe Gray will don the red, blue and white this season, with her addition expected to help cover the loss of Miliano in defence.
Gray will join forces with Bridgette King, who was one of the Bulldogs’ most consistent performers in her first full A grade season last year, with Elvie Kelly-Britten, Demi Hallam and Jaclyn Rivett expected to roll through the midcourt.
Dedini is one that can play any position on the court, but having spent most of last season at goal shooter, and combined with the loss of Rowe, can be expected to play in goals alongside Nalder.
There’s little doubt that the loss of their reigning best and fairest and former coach Rowe will be a heavy one for the Bulldogs, but despite her departure, there is still an air of confidence around the club, according to Dedini.
“Our focus so far has been on just having fun, sometimes we forget that netball is a hobby and that we all have jobs and kids, so our main aim has been that you either leave training feeling like you’ve accomplished something, or you leave with a smile on your face,” Dedini said.
“Hopefully we can keep it like that throughout the year, because sometimes it can get a bit too serious, but I think we’re all in a pretty good space at the moment.
“We’re all about trying to keep things consistent throughout our grades, so that players can chop and change a little bit across the season.
“We’re aiming to play with a bit of an attacking defence, just so we can lighten the load on our attack a little bit.
“We want to be smart with the ball and our ball movement down the court, we know that there are other teams that have some pretty big names, but as long as we’re consistent with the way we play, we think that we’ll be able to match some of those clubs.”
TYNTYNDER FAST FACTS
JOINED LEAGUE – 1997
COURTS – Alan Garden Reserve
PREMIERSHIPS – 9 (1997, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2008, 2011, 2017, 2018)
A GRADE COACHES – Bridget Dedini and Monica Ellis
2024 LADDER POSITION – Elimination Finalist
2024 BEST & FAIREST – Kelsey Rowe
FROM THE COACH
“We’re still being pretty positive despite losing a few key players. We have a lot of depth in our juniors and we’re really hoping to blood a lot of them into our A grade side this year and get some experience into them, but we still have the aim that we want to make finals also. I guess we’re looking at a combination of girls from our A reserves stepping up and also some junior girls filling in throughout the year.”
PLAYER TO WATCH
Bridget Dedini
Having taken over, along with Monica Ellis, as coach of the Bulldogs, Dedini will be hoping to lead from the front both on and off the court.
Will receive more defensive attention with the departure of Kelsey Rowe and will need to be at her best if Tyntynder are to play finals for a second season in a row.
Is a smart player who is able to effectively use her body against most defenders and rarely gives opponents a second chance with her accurate goal shooting.
IN’S
Zoe Gray (Wandella)
OUT’S
Kelsey Rowe (Mallee Eagles)
Nichola Miliano
Monica Ellis
