SOVEREIGNS are holding nothing back in their goal-setting for this year’s Victorian Netball League campaign.
Playing finals is number one on the agenda across all three competitions – championship, division one and 19/under.
It is a massive call.
While Ballarat’s ACU Sovereigns played 19/under finals in their debut season last year, they had just one win in championship and division one.
A re-shaped Sovereigns will probably need 10 wins in 18 rounds to finish in the top four.
Club chairman Bill Mundy is the most vocal in setting the ambitious target.
He said his expectations were clear – playing finals in all three divisions.
“We need to deliver success.
“We believe we have the players to deliver in will be landmark year.”
Mundy said with success would come greater community support as the club developed on and off the court.
New championship head coach Joh Curran said she knew from her netball experience what it took to be a successful club and she was determined to pass this on in her new appointment.
She said importantly the club had the people with what it took for success, including an “amazing” pool of talent across the Sovereigns’ four squads – championship, division one, 19/under and 19/under development.
She said there was also a pool of untapped talent in the region as Sovereigns built on providing a pathway to levels beyond the VNL.
Curran said an immediate priority was to instill a culture of success.
“We’re not just here to make up numbers.”
Newly appointed championship captain Janelle Lawson has no doubt playing finals is a realistic goal.
While acknowledging it was ambitious, she said Sovereigns had the players to finish in the top four. “There’s a lot of talent there.”
Sovereigns continued their pre-season against Melbourne Uni on Friday night.
