By SARAH MATTHEWS

Harrow-Balmoral will introduce a new-look A Grade team if and when Horsham District netball kicks off in 2020. 

The Southern Roos, like other AFL Wimmera Mallee clubs, are training under their own steam in preparation for a delayed start to the season due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Highly decorated defender Ebonie Salter has resumed A Grade coaching duties and is excited to see what her charges can produce despite losing a few big names.

“We’ve lost nearly everybody from last year,” she said.

“Amy Lewis and Kate Vickery are both pregnant and Bec Francis is moving overseas. Sammy Crick was also going overseas for a few months, which isn’t happening now – which is good for us.”

In other good news for the Roos, versatile premiership player Megan Russell will again pull on the blue and white after a year on the sidelines.

“Megan is one of those players you love to have on your team but hate to play against, because she excels in any position she is in,” Salter said. 

“Megan is coming back after a year off and I hope once we get going and get into the swing of things, that she really enjoys it.

“She’s only been to the one training session, on the Thursday night, and she didn’t miss a beat.” 

Goalie Lucy King has also joined the team, crossing from Noradjuha-
Quantong, and young guns Olivia Muldoon and Febey McClure – who have enjoyed a taste of A Grade netball for several seasons – have cemented full-time spots.

“It’s a good reward for them,” Salter said. 

“You do get a bit proud of the girls you’ve helped develop as juniors and to see them feel confident enough to be on the court as an A grader.

“It’s the same with the B Grade girls, like Sammy, who used to play B Grade a few years ago and has worked her way up to being a full-time A Grade player.

“Steph Lamont is another B Grader who had a few opportunities in A Grade last year and flourished. She will be in the A Grade side as well this year.

“It’s nice to be able to give these opportunities.”

Salter said versatility would be an asset, however it would take a while to trial different combinations.

“It’s pretty much a brand-new team, which is exciting, but it will also be hard with a shorter season because we won’t have much time to gel,” she said. “It’s an opportunity to move away from some of the things we’ve been doing for a while and try some new things. 

“It’s a good challenge and I’m looking forward to it.” 

The Southern Roos had just switched to Thursday night trainings when they were directed to stop club gatherings to help combat the COVID-19 threat. 

“We were training on Wednesday nights, which made it a bit hard, and we only had the one Thursday night training before we had to stop,” Salter said.

“It was a good training though, most people were there and the atmosphere was good. Everyone was just getting excited for the season and then we had to stop. 

“We didn’t get as many numbers out there this year as in previous years, we’ve had a lot of girls step aside. There are a lot of new faces though, which is good.”

Salter said despite so many changes, there would still be some consistency in lower grades.

“I think we will still be strong throughout the grades,” Salter said. 

“We have some strong teams on paper and if we keep motivated and everyone is back on board then I don’t see why we can’t do well.

“We will definitely be aiming to make finals in all grades.” 

Harrow-Balmoral is renowned for its strength on the netball court.

A Grade bowed out of the competition in the preliminary final in 2019, losing to Natimuk United by three goals. All grades played finals, with C Reserve, 17 and unders and 13 and unders making it through to grand finals.

To maintain momentum and motivation, Salter and some of her team-mates have recorded training videos to complement a raft of online resources.

“From a club point of view, it’s good for the kids to see players they look up to leading the way,” she said. 

“When they watch the videos, they see familiar faces and it’s not so foreign to them. 

“It’s been really good to be able to do that. 

“We will filter them out over the next however many weeks until we can train together again.”

Coaches:

A Grade: Ebonie Salter

B Grade: Janelle Knight

C Grade: Shelley Muldoon

C Reserve: Kate Cameron

17 and under: Michelle Penrose

15 and under: Jo Merryfull

13 and under: Kelsie McClure

Net Set Go: Suse McClure

 

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