Storm surge at Waverley
The Gippsland Storm have once again had another successful season, with four of their 10 squads making the finals and three the grand final at the Waverley Netball Centre.
It was the fifteen and under squad that again lead from the front, taking home their third consecutive title under head coach Simon O’Shanassy.
O’Shanassy said that the win was a huge credit to the amount of work the girls had put in.
“Words can’t describe how proud I am, not only of their success over the past two years, but more importantly the journey they’ve taken to get here,” he said. “Every single one of these girls have earned their place on this team and deserve every accolade for their hard work,” he added.
The Storm’s fifteen and under four squad also made the grand final, finishing just short of a title, with coach Christina Rigoni extremely proud of the girls and everything they had achieved throughout the season.
Netballers were back again the following Tuesday night, with the Storm’s senior division one side making the grand final. Despite falling short against some of the best netballers in the state, again, the players and coaches were proud of the season the girls had put together.
Gippsland Storm president, Sarah Blackman, said she was very pleased with 2019 with so many teams doing well in both the autumn and spring seasons and players exhibiting what it means to be a storm player.
“The attributes I like to reflect on in relation to character are, integrity, honour, strength, sprit and moral fibre. This is all part of the process at the Gippsland Storm, building the individual,” she said.
The Storm are now looking towards backing up their impressive efforts on the court as the 2020 season fast approaches.
In just their second season as part of the Warragul Industrials Football Club, the Dusties women’s football team made the finals. Now, they are looking to take the next step.
Women’s football is a growing sport in Australia. In fact, it’s one of the fastest growing sports in the country, with more and more women now lacing up the boots for hundreds of teams across Australia.
In 2016, a women’s football team was formed in Warragul alongside the Colts Football Club, before the team joined up with the Warragul Industrials Football Club in 2018 as it continued to grow.
Tony Linford, president of the women’s team, said that he’s been encouraged to see so many women in the area wanting to play football.
“We’ve really swelled in the last two to three years, from just having enough to field a side, to 30-40 women who are really active in the club.” he said.
“It’s Australia’s fastest growing sport and our club is open to women of all ages who want to play” he added. “We start from 12 years of age with our youth girls’ program, before they move into the women’s league from 18 years and beyond after that.”
Now, with the addition of a second oval at Western Park, it has allowed the women to