COACH: Amanda Edwards.
ARRIVALS: Focus on promoting youth in the club.
DEPARTURES: Molly Young, Emily Hosking
1273 days. That’s how long it’s been since Wentworth’s A Grade netball team last lost a game, when the 2019 minor premiers fell to Ouyen United in that year’s decider.
While there was a lost season (2020) and a shortened one (2021) between then and now, there’s little doubt that the Amanda Edwards-led Roos are the benchmark of Sunraysia netball.
They outclassed their opposition en route to last year’s big dance and looked at short odds to account for Ouyen United in the grand final.
However, there was indoor drama galore at Mildura Sporting Precinct as the Roos were forced to dig deep in a come-from-behind one-goal win.
The Roos have lost two key players for the season in Molly Young and Emily Hosking, with both moving interstate.
However, there is a production line of young talent ready to join the nucleus of the team, including star shooter Edwards, dynamo Christie Becker and the hard-nosed Nat Vercher.
In a major boost, former AFLW star Courtney Wakefield has committed to playing for the full season as her daughter, Tilly, prepares to make her junior netball debut for the Roos.
Ex-Richmond footballer Wakefield is likely to play at Goal Keeper, with the versatile Becker moving to Wing Defence.
Edwards is predicting that 17-year-old Lola McInerney to make a good impression this season.
“Lola played well in our B Grade team last year and I think she’s ready to step up,” she said.
“We want to give the young girls a chance to play and learn from our senior players.”
The 36-year-old expects the Kangas and Mildura to once again be pushing to knock the Roos off their perch.
“You’d expect Ouyen to be up and about again, they are a great club,” she said.
“Mildura will be in the mix again. They have some really good juniors.
“Red Cliffs also have some top juniors. I expect they’ll continue to improve this year.”
