After a strong showing in last year’s competition, during which they made the semi-finals, senior netball coach Jodie Lake said ahead of this season that the Magpies chances of winning an A-grade premiership this year couldn’t be discounted, a message she is reiterating before round one.
“100 per cent on paper, that’s what you aspire to, that’s the reason we play,” Lake said of Moama being a premiership chance.
“We’ve all put our heads together and said you know, you don’t play A-grade for any other reason but to win the premiership, so we’re all on the same page with where we want to be in September, and that’s still playing.
“Definitely on paper I’ve got the talent, got a good mix of experience and youth coming through, so I think we are definitely a chance.”
Inheriting a side that finished fourth on the ladder (14 wins, 5 losses) under Lisa Drysdale, premiership player Lake will be at the helm of a side that leant on experience last season.
Their chances of going deeper into the season this year will be boosted by the arrival of members of the under-17 premiership winning squad, with a number of those players primed to make the jump into the senior squads, according to Lake.
“They’re more than up to the task, I think,” Lake said.
“Eden Drennan is going to be one to watch, she is such a fantastic shooter.
“She is going to have a really good time in A-grade I think, it’s just really handy to have that player; you just sort of know the goals are going to go in.
“She’s really dynamite in the ring, so she will be really exciting to watch.”
A strong pre-season included practice matches against Goulburn Valley sides Shepp Swans and Echuca, as well as Central Murray side Cohuna, which gave Lake a good opportunity to see the game plan come to fruition.
“We were competitive against the GV sides, they’re always going to be that bit stronger being in a bigger, stronger league,” she said.
“But Cohuna, we won against them pretty convincingly, so that was really pleasing to see especially being so close to round one, so everything is sort of coming together at the right time.”
Moama will get its season under way at home this Saturday, April 1, against a Mulwala side that snuck into the last available finals spot last year (10 wins, nine losses), although will enter 2023 with the aim of closing the gap to the teams ahead of them under new coach Narelle Donovan.
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