Confident ‘Cutters

Despite a tumultuous off-season, with the loss of key senior footballers, a senior coach and committee, Mathoura Football Netball Club’s senior team is looking ‘fresh’ for round one against Rennie.

Newly appointed seniors coach Stan Gilday said while they may not have the most experienced side, they will have the speed.

A number of under 17s players will be stepping up to play seniors this season, and will play in front of a home crowd tomorrow.

“We will be a small, quick side and we have been training to use that to our advantage,” he said.

With the side starting behind the 8-ball in the off-season, this season’s goal will be to start the rebuild and get the younger players ready to play seniors.

“Although we don’t have as many bigger bodies as other clubs, if we can utilise our youth we will certainly be competitive,” he said.

“They are quite impressive these young players, with the likes of Jake Duggan, Ryan Mann, Rhys Willis just to name a few - I’m excited to see what they can do and I think we will surprise a few clubs.

“For me only being fairly new to the area and not knowing the opposition very well yet, it is hard to know how we will compete to other sides.

“But hopefully we can win a few games, put in a good fight and train up those juniors who are coming through.

On the courts, Mathoura’s senior netballers will be hitting the ground at full strength in round one, after narrowly missing finals last season.

Despite the loss of A grade best and fairest, Jordan Barett A grade coach Rita Howard is excited by her team’s prospects this season, retaining the majority of the squad.

“The girl’s have been working hard at pre-season and we’ve got our full-strength side back,” said Howard.

“I think we can be serious contenders this season.”