PROFILE
KOONDROOK-Barham are putting their faith in home-grown talent this season, with the club keen to move on from a disastrous 2022.
After going winless and with an average losing margin of 33 goals a game, it’s fair to say last season was one to forget for the River Raiders. While the stats don’t make great reading, they also don’t tell the true story, with the young Raiders showing considerable improvement by season’s end – with a seven-goal loss to Tyntynder and five-goal defeat to Tooleybuc-Manangatang in the closing rounds proof of that.
The club’s first big move towards climbing the ladder came back in November last year, with the appointment of new A Grade coach Grant Matthews. Having won no less than 16 premierships as a coach since 2004 at clubs including Mathoura, Katandra, Echuca, Echuca United and the Deniliquin Rovers, Matthews’ appointment couldn’t have been timed any better for Koondrook-Barham.
While the new coach is under no illusions about the task in front of him, he’s also looking forward to the challenge of rebuilding a playing squad from the ground up – and eventually taking them to the top.
“Like any new coach that comes to a club, you’re going to change some aspects of your team’s play – be it with regard to court craft or skill sets and we’re in the process of doing that now with our coaching group,” Matthews said.
“We’re just looking to enhance and implement a few changes in our game plan and that will help us be a lot more competitive – certainly with a big focus on our decision making and responsibility for our own positions.
“We’ll be looking to promote within the club some opportunities for some of our younger players to play seniors again, which is similar to last season.
“A lot of them got a taste of senior netball throughout the various senior grades last year and I think we’d like to encourage that again while we’re in this development phase of the club – and not only just present opportunities for the juniors, but the same also applies for some of the senior players to play up a level as well.”
While Koondrook-Barham will retain the bulk of their squad from last season, there will be one big inclusion, with former Raider Sid Dyer returning to her home club following a stint with Quambatook. Not only does Dyer return in a playing capacity, where she will provide run and drive through the midcourt, she will assume the role of A Reserve coach and A Grade assistant coach.
Dyer will most likely form a strong combination with fellow midcourt players Hayley Reading and youngster Tess Doyle, who has been earmarked as a player to watch this season. Another key player for the Raiders is stalwart Tlarnee Lake, who will again be partnered with another youngster. Remi Doyle. in goals.
The only downside may be at the defensive end of the court for Koondrook-Barham. While Sassi-Jo McGrath is confirmed as returning to wear the GK bib, the same cannot be said for reigning club best and fairest Rach Robertson, who at the time of print was still weighing up her playing future for this season.
FROM THE COACH
“We’ll be just looking to continue to develop the younger members of our club and provide them with opportunities at senior level. At a minimum, we want to be a lot more competitive than last season.”
KEY PLAYER
Tlarnee Lake
Played under new coach Grant Matthews at Deni Rovers in 2018 and is the backbone of the Raiders team, with her amazing court craft and class setting her apart from the rest. Finished runner-up in the Central Murray A Grade best-and-fairest award two seasons ago.
INS & OUTS
INS
Sidney Dyer (Quambatook)
OUTS
None
