Back together
Swifts netballers will welcome back a suite of former players to the A Grade squad in 2023, after their youngsters battled bravely last season.
The Baggies’ top netball team did not win a Horsham District league game in 2022, however won points for scheduled matches against an absent Taylors Lake A Grade side.
With several of the Swifts former A Grade players returning to the court this season after having children, the league could wakeup to a competitive black-andteal-team again.
A Grade coach Kristy Dodds is one such player to return to the court.
She said Jade Cleary and Sarah Morris would be joining her.
“This season we will have a very experienced and mature side, and most of our players will have played many seasons of netball together before,” she said.
“Edwina Flakemore and Erin Freeland have a great connection in defence, while Cleary, Jacqui Scott and Heidi Lang will also return and be great players for us this season. We also recruited Molly Orr from Stawell Warriors, who can play at both ends of the court.
“Last season was great to give some of our developing players an opportunity to get some A Grade court time, but this season will be a return to a more tried squad.”
Dodds said the Swifts’ netball department would continue to have junior and senior grades mirror A Grade game-style – a strategy she believes will streamline the development of new players into the A Grade team.
“We are keen to develop our juniors and we want to have all our teams on the same level in terms of set-ups, game plays and strategies,” she said.
“When a player does step into the A Grade team, they will know what is required.
“We will have a mentoring program, too, with our senior players to buddy-up with a junior who plays similar positions.”
Dodds said there was a sense of ‘unfinished business’ within the Swifts’ team.
“We want to play finals,” he said.
“In 2021 we finished inside the top six and we want to replicate that again in 2023.
“That is our goal – to get the squad back to playing finals.
“Our team has regrouped but, of course, we will take each weekend as it comes.
“We have already played a few practice games and the vibe among the squad was electric.
“Now it is just about ensuring we are match-fit for round one.”
The ‘regrouped’ Swifts A Grade team will host Kaniva-leeor United at North Park, Stawell, in round one, which should be a great measure of their improved competitiveness this season.