Planning a fierce return
As clubs do their best to move past the disappointment of an interrupted 2021 season, the looming test will be who can bounceback quickest in 2022.
Rupanyup president Rod Weidemann described this challenge as beating the COVID-19 ‘hangover’.
He said the Panthers were ‘settling into its hangover’ but believed they would return strong again in 2022.
“Initially we spent some time getting over the disappointment of last season. But we have recruited well and maintained players, so overall we are going well,” he said.
The senior football side finished inside the treasured top-two on the Horsham district league ladder last year.
It is a team comfortable being at the pointy end of the season in recent years.
The A Grade netball side finished 10th in 2021.
Mr Weidemann was confident the ‘fierce’ Panthers would be back this season. “I’d also say we never left,” he said. “We have worked hard to give our juniors an opportunity to play sport and we have good numbers across all grades.
“Our junior program has always been our focus.
“We want senior football and netball success this year and we know the competition is looking strong at the top-end of the ladders. If we keep focussed, the rest should take care of itself.”
The Panthers recruited Brayden Ison in the off-season to join Jack Musgrove as joint senior coach.
Ison said he was keen to take the next step in his coaching career.
He said his side was ticking along nicely.
“We have a few travellers joining us this year and we have some good kids coming up into the senior squad as well,” he said.
Depth
Ison said the side had improved its midfield depth in the off-season and he backed his midfield group to match it with any in the league.
“Our midfield is really strong and that matches out strength at the ends of the ground,” he said.
“We want to be attacking this year and not die wandering.
“The side got itself in a position to challenge for a preliminary final last season and we know how important that top-two finish is for any team to make a proper finals challenge.”
Ison said a motivation was to be the best ‘team-football’ side in the league.
“No individuals, no grandstanding,” he said.
Netball director and 2022 joint A Grade coach Emma Downes praised the quality of netballers who re-joined the club this season.
“We have appointed Jenny Downer, who has a wealth of knowledge, as cohead coach and it is great to have her back in the senior squad,” she said.
“Gemma Morgan and Kayla Weidemann are pivotal in the senior group and Grace Turner and Adele Weidemann will push into the senior squads this year, which is great.”
Downes said she admired her netballers making it through some tough years.
“Want to be competitive in 2022 and make sure we are enjoying our netball at the same time,” she said.
“They really are a great group of girls and it’s awesome they have all scrubbed up and come back again in 2022.”
Mr Weidemann also noted a stress many Horsham district league clubs were facing POST-COVID-19, identifying a lack of available volunteers across the league.
He said no club was immune to its impacts.
“I suppose this might be a big challenge for the league,” he said.
“Along with the holistic depth of the junior competitions – there might be some structural issues there. It is all very tricky and complex.”