ROUND one of the Central Murray Netball League season could go either way as the Cohuna Kangas host Woorinen.
There wasn’t much to separate the two teams last season, with the Kangas finishing up in seventh and the Tigers just scraping into the top five.
But a new season means a whole new ball game.
Spectators will be keen to see how the new-look Tigers shape up this season, paying particular attention to new recruits in Carlee Hazlett, Arlie Atkinson, Stevie-Jo Maher and playing coach Tayla Bennett.
“It’s a different line-up to what people have seen in the past, but we are very versatile this season which is great, so we will see a lot of movement into different positions,” Bennett said.
“I reckon Stevie-Jo Maher and her link with Tessa Demaria, those two working together will be good to watch, as well as Emily Siely and Arlie Atkinson in the forward line.
“[Siely and Atkinson] have done a fantastic job so far this season through our trainings and our preseason hit out, so those girls leading out the front is really good, especially coming into that goal circle.”
The Kangas will have Danni Sawyer and Keeley Wilson in their defence end, while Carmen Dye and Kobie McIvor will once again show off their connection in the goal circle.
They also have Echuca Bombers’ midcourter Georgie Eishold on a match permit, as well as potentially seeing some of their younger players take the court.
Kangas coach Meg Dye said as a team they will be looking to keep their pressure high and consistent throughout the four quarters, while also putting scoreboard pressure on the other team in what will hopefully be a tight contest.
“There will definitely be a focus that our goalers do perform – if you don’t score goals, it becomes very hard to win,” she said.
“I think it’s not going to be easy, it will be tough – they are a tough side and just going off what last season was, we had close games with them, so I am kind of expecting the same, but hopefully a win for us.”
Returning to the club after a stint in the Golden Rivers league, Bennett is not exactly sure what to expect from the Kangas, but believes it could be a very competitive match.
“I’m not quite sure what Cohuna is going to be like, but sometimes you get that kind of mixed bag in that you don’t know what you are coming up against, which is also nice for us in being able to problem solve and think on our toes,” she said.
“I feel like any game to start the season off is a bit of hard work, you don’t know what to expect, so we just want to execute a good game plan on our behalf and make sure that we are hitting our targets.
“We’re all pumped just to even get out on the court.”
The game starts at 12.50pm tomorrow.
