THERE will be many excited netballers and fans keen for the beginning of the 2022 season this weekend, especially following two very difficult years for country sport.
2020 was essentially a writeoff, and then 2021 was stop and start throughout, with the disappointment of the finals being cancelled.
Few clubs will have been as frustrated by this sudden end to the season than Balranald, who had a stellar season, particularly in A-grade.
The A-grade side was crowned the minor premiers, and alongside the under-18s team was awarded Balranald’s sporting team of the year.
One of the stars of the court was A-grade playing coach Jess Parry, who took home the Central Murray Football Netball League’s A-grade best and fairest, Voyage Fitness netball coach of the year and Balranald’s sportsperson of the year.
With Parry at the helm again, the Roos are the ones to beat in what the stand-out player and coach predicted would be a “good challenge”.
“You can never underestimate Tyntynder,” Parry said of the Roos’ first opponents of the season.
“They are a strong club who can deliver some brilliant netball on their day.
“I’m predicting a tough game of netball and I know that we will need to play a very disciplined and consistent four quarters of netball if we want to win.”
Tyntynder is bringing an almost entirely fresh A-grade team to the court in 2022 from last year.
But they still have plenty of experience and skill to show off. Like Balranald, the whole crew will bring their top game but coach Georgia Styles told The Guardian that Demi Wall in the midcourt is a player to watch. Toni Rivett returns to her junior club from Woorinen last season, Caitlin Bartalotta will be back on court and Nichola Milano continues to be strong in defence – all bringing plenty of experience to Tyntynder’s gameplay.
The first game back with a heap of talent in the mix could make for an intense meeting but Parry said her side will be keeping it simple.
“I think the key thing for us in round one is to execute the basics well, maintain structure and to try and play at a high intensity for the full game,” she said.
“Obviously match day fitness takes time to build up but I think our girls have put in a strong pre-season to hopefully help get them through Saturday’s game.”
Parry said everything is “a bit of an unknown” regarding who she expected to shine on Saturday.
“We will go into the game focused on what we hope to achieve as a team, and not be too set on one or two opposition players but rather go in with the mindset that Tyntynder are all going to be tough to beat,” she said.
“I’m really proud of our whole playing group and how they have put in over the pre-season so I’m excited for Saturday to see how we gel together as a team and to see where our strengths and weaknesses are.”
Elsewhere in the region, Tooleybuc Manangatang will face Lake Boga in what should, based on last year’s performances be a relatively equal match.
Koondrook Barham will face last year’s runners up in the Mallee Eagles, and Nyah-Nyah West United, who finished without a win last year, will face a strong Woorinen side.
Nyah have had an injection of some new talent, so this may be a more successful year for them. The Cohuna Kangas have a bye and Swan Hill were scheduled to play Kerang but the Blues have been unable to form an A-grade side for the season.
North Central League matches for the weekend are: Charlton v Wedderburn, Birchip Watchem v Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers, Donald v Boort and Wycheproof Narraport v St Arnaud.
In the Loddon Valley League (LVFNL), the games will be Calivil United v Inglewood, Bridgewater v Pyramid Hill, Mitiamo v Bears Lagoon Serpentine and Maiden Gully YCW v Marong.
Newbridge in the LVFNL and Leitchville Gunbower in the Heathcote League will have a bye. The Golden Rivers League matches start a week later.
