GOULBURN VALLEY NETBALL LEAGUE
Lions keen to defend title G
oulburn Valley Netball League competition was at its strongest last year as Seymour broke a 27-year premiership drought.
While the Lions emerged as a strong force, runner-up Echuca proved the surprise packet of the season. Few knew how to stop the red-hot Lions, but Jenny Barlow’s Euroa did. Barlow announced a surprise move to Mooroopna, where she sets out to lead the Cats’ rise up the ladder. Barlow is not the only fresh coaching face in the competition as accomplished Murray league mentor Dylan Nexhip takes charge at Benalla. Sarah Hosking is the youngest coach in the league aged 20. She may be young, but Euroa’s new mentor does not lack experience. A Victorian Netball League player, Hosking is determined to lead the Magpies to their first A-grade flag. Lauren Tesoriero has the top job at Mansfield, while well-known umpire Kylie Pearce will mentor Rochester. A number of changes also flow through the clubs, as Seymour looms as a force to be reckoned with yet again. Coach Ash Chapman has retained star Elle McDonald, who finished her debut season with a Wellman Family Medal, premiership medal and the crown for best-on-court in the grand final. Echuca coach Gina Pearson often described her side last season as a star team, not a team full of stars. Whatever the recipe, it worked. Pearson’s side dropped just two games in the home-and-away season, before it was out-run against the gallant Lions. While Kyabram showed glimpses of its recent glory era, the Bombers failed to deliver when it mattered most. League star Ash Mangan made her longawaited return from a serious knee injury and the Bombers’ list is set to look better again this season. Coach Belinda Lees (pregnancy) will
assume an on-court role as she eyes off more silverware. Shepparton knocked Lees’ side out of the finals race, but it went on to experience similar heartache. Bears coach Tracey Brereton wants the club’s first A-grade premiership and she enlisted the help from ex-Trans-Tasman Championship defender Shannon Eagland to help do so. Inconsistent is the best way to describe Shepparton United’s last season. The Demons scraped into finals then caused the upset of the series, taking down third-placed Euroa and reigniting the finals schedule debate. Other clubs were not as lucky. It proved a development year for Shepparton Swans, Rochester, Mooroopna, Mansfield and Tatura — who slipped into the bottom five. Developing youth is a common trait among clubs as they set out to build a strong foundation for future years. GEORGINA CAHILL
Seymour
2015: Seymour 2014: Shepparton United 2013: Shepparton Swans 2012: Kyabram 2011: Kyabram 2010: Shepparton United
WELLMAN FAMILY MEDALLISTS: 2015: Elle McDonald (Seymour) 2014: Jacinta Todd (Shepparton) 2013: Jade Heinrich (Mansfield) 2012: Ash Mangan (Kyabram) 2011: Kathryn Hard (Seymour) 2010: Ash Mangan (Kyabram)
1
Seymour
2
Kyabram
3
Euroa
4
Shepparton
5
Shepparton United
6
Echuca
7
Benalla
8
Shepparton Swans
9
Mooroopna
10
Rochester
11
Mansfield
12
Tatura
Megan Trevaskis
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