SHEPPARTON BEARS
Boasting an ever-growing crop of young talent, mixed with its more experienced core, Shepparton will be a force to be reckoned with this year.
Veteran A-grade coach Tracey Brereton enters an incredible 15th season at the Bears’ helm.
After a mid-table finish in the shortened 2021 season, the Bears mentor expects her young guns to inject some electricity into her side this year, as it looks to push itself up the Goulburn Valley Netball League ladder.
“We selected our side before Christmas, I think the team will have a bit of a different make-up this year,” Brereton said.
“It’s a great opportunity for our new brood of youngsters to step up, it’s an exciting looking list in our under-17s and 15s, a few of them will definitely make the transition to seniors this year.”
One of those could be young-gun Mackenzie O’Dwyer, who had Bears fans on their feet in 2021, taking out the GVL Jacqui Hudson under-15s medal.
Shepparton has also secured the services of dynamic goal-attack Caitlin Hill, who brings with her years of Victorian Netball League experience with the City West Falcons, where she has been a part of multiple premierships.
Brereton says her “usual suspects” are all expected to go around again, with Ella Sidebottom, Ash Cann and Jacinta Todd all expected to feature in the side this year.
COACH: TRACEY BRERETON 2021 FINISH: SEVENTH (4-6)