By Matt Fotia
The Outer East netballers will be keeping it simple when they do battle with the Bendigo FNL at the Queen Elizabeth Oval sporting complex this Saturday in the fourth edition of the Worksafe AFL Victoria Community Championships.
The Outer East is in the strange situation of having both won and lost in its last interleague hit out as the two merging leagues of the SEFNL and AFL Yarra Ranges were drawn to play each other. But after months of trials and trainings they are now ready to face opposition as a united force.
Netball Development Manager Greg Heinrich is excited to get stuck into the two matches against Bendigo, whom he expects to present a very tough challenge.
“Bendigo will bring a very tough brand of country netball, and we know their side has plenty of talent with a few VNL listed girls in the Open squad.”
Heinrich will coach the Under 17 side, whilst Guy Keane will mastermind the Open outfit. Both coaches have expectations on what their opponent with toss up, but they both know it is easier to focus on what they can do on the court rather than their opponents, especially with the uniqueness of Interleague.
“We will just focus on a really simple game plan, if we can execute our structures we will go a long way towards winning the game as well as playing an attractive, attacking brand of netball,” said Heinrich about the Outer East approach.
Kaitlyn Black will assist Keane with the coaching of the Open side, whilst Kinglake coach Latoya Wards will do the same for Heinrich in the Under 17 set up, giving the young coaches precious exposure to high level mentors. Heinrich is confident in the netball future of both coaching and playing in the Outer East.
“The Under 17 side is a line up with a long future in netball ahead of them, they combining well and on their day could beat anyone – a number of the girls are already involved in programs with VNL clubs,”
“One in particular to keep an eye on is Cranbourne’s quick mid courter Eloise Crabtree who uses the ball well in attack and is a strong defensive mid courter.”
Heinrich is also very confident about the Open sides prospects. The squad includes players from each division of senior netball with Stephanie McNay of Seville selected from Division Two. There are two players from Beaconsfield, whilst Olinda Ferny Creek and Mount Evelyn have three in the squad. Monbulk’s Nicole MacDowell has also been selected.
“It’s hard to fault our Open line up given we’ve got seven current VNL players included in the squad of 10 and the three that aren’t in those squads could easily play at the level.”
The Under 17 side will be skippered by Elliot Santamaria of Berwick Netball Club, whilst Olinda Ferny Creek superstar Krista Tomlinson will lead the Open side.
SQUADS
UNDER 17
Chloe Heppell – Monbulk
Eloise Crabtree – Cranbourne
Lainie Bidwell – Berwick
Lauren Bechet – Narre Warren
Vanessa Qumivutia – ROC
Summah Hinchcliffe – Berwick
Ellie Brasser – Berwick
Ella Morse – Woori Yallock
Emily Pollock – Narre Warren
Elliot Santamaria (C) – Berwick
Coach – Greg Heinrich
Ass Coach – Latoya Wards
OPEN
Ash Gill – Beaconsfield
Brodie Smith – Olinda Ferny Creek
Ellie Karaula – Mount Evelyn
Jacqui Black – Mount Evelyn
Kaitlyn Black – Mount Evelyn
Krista Tomlinson (C) – Olinda Ferny Creek
Nicole Macdowell – Monbulk
Peri Stewart – Olinda Ferny Creek
Rylee Nelson – Beaconsfield
Stephanie McNay – Seville
Coach – Guy Keane
Ass Coach – Kaitlyn Black
