Cats in search of finals Lockington-Bamawm United

FINALS are in sight for Lockington-Bamawm United’s A grade netball team.

The Cats finished seventh in 2016 and hoped to take that extra step this year to have a showing come the business end of the season.

Coach Kristy Roulston said it was her aim to see the girls into the top five and hoped some established combinations would help them get there.

But the full team was yet to have a hit out together and would still be missing players for round one against Mount Pleasant.

‘‘I don’t know how Mounts are positioned this year, but it would be great to get a win round one,’’ Roulston said.

‘‘We had a win and a loss against them last season so we’ll be going into the game positive.’’

Jane Reid will enter the team as an all-rounder with plenty of height, with the coach saying the new recruit could play both ends of the court.

Reid has previously played for Rochester and Shepparton Swans and is returning to netball after a couple of years away from the game.

The Cats also have some handy juniors stepping up to seniors this season, a scenario Roulston wants to see more of this year.

Rebecca Eade, Breeanah Priestley, Ellie Monaghan, Ally Todd and Stacey Bacon will enter the A grade squad after playing under 17s in 2016.

‘‘Our juniors have always been really strong, the under 15s have made the finals the last five or six years, and it’s important we continue to develop these players into the seniors,’’ Roulston said.

‘‘Hopefully this season we can give a lot of them the opportunity to play senior netball and make that transition from seniors to juniors a little easier.’’

Roulston also hoped to see an improvement in the core group of A grade players and said they had already had some really good hit outs.