With changes to team line-ups and excitement at fever pitch after the competition's COVID-forced hiatus, the new season shapes as one of the most anticipated in recent memory.

Can anyone stop North Ballarat's charge to a third-straight premiership? Which team will return the best after such a long time away from the game?

The Courier caught up with all the A Grade coaches to see how they were feeling on the eve of a bumper season.

Coach: Josh Burns

2019: 1^st (15-1)

lost preliminary final to North Ballarat

How has pre-season been going?

Josh Burns: It's been a bit up-and-down. It's a new club and a lot of new faces, obviously with me coming from elsewhere. It's really been about getting to know what we have at the club and what kind of culture they've got. (We've focused) on building on what we've already got. We're just looking to develop our game further. We're not too focused on the end result being a premiership or whatever. We're just looking to improve ourselves first and work on team chemistry.

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Have have you found it coming in as a first-year coach?

It's always going to be a bit touch-and-go when you've never really done it. But I'm just really trying to get into the habit of better presenting things to girls who may not understand and you have to think of different ways to get through to different people. I'm not trying to expect too much from certain individuals but just trying to get a nice base for everyone to be working from.

What's going to important for your team in the early rounds of the season?

We've been trying to work on how to better connect down the court and what do in certain scenarios. As long as we taking the second to breathe and analyse the play, rather than just running around in circles and as long we reflect after the games everything should fall into place.

How is the playing list shaping up?

Well, I came into the side with most of the A Grade (players) leaving with the previous coach. I was planning on brining a few players with me from Melton but girls dropped out for different reasons. So I didn't end up bringing anyone across with me, which was disappointing because I pretty much had a full A Grade side that I could have just brought in. But we've had three recruits (Ashley and Brittany Buckingham and Keely Quan) out of the blue.

Coach: Annie McCartin

2019: 2^nd (14-2)

beat East Point in grand final

How has pre-season been going?

Annie McCartin: I never start the girls too early so we started about the end of January. We just had the one practice match and we couldn't have all the girls because it was holiday time but I was quite pleased with how the girls went. So we're ready to go. I'm not sure we'll have a full team (for round one) but that's okay. These things happen and you've just to give the young ones a go.

How do you see the early rounds of the season playing out?

I think once the next few rounds unfold we should be able to settle into what I call our mojo. It is a little bit different (this season). I haven't got my defender Laura McDonald. We've got a couple of our young juniors coming up to have their first season of A Grade, so it will be a different feel at first. I know that they will rise to the challenge and I've got complete confidence in them.

How big of a loss is Laura?

She's a big loss for us. She was a beautiful player and worked lovely with Emma Church. We definitely will miss Laura, but it creates a space for one of our juniors or a couple of juniors to come up and have a go.

What's going to be important for you and this group in how you want to go about things?

"We've got a beautiful core group that we've more or less retained. We've still got Maddie (Selmon) and Poppy (Douglass) in goals. There's Stacey (Matthews) and Gina (McCartin), the sisters, there in mid-court. Then you have Emma Church. I call her the big full-back, she holds us up down that end. The girls I've got are just a beautiful team that has gelled together and play for one another. They trust one another in however they go about it out there on the court. I know they will look out for each other.

Coach: Matthew Blomeley

2019: 3^rd (13-3)

lost to North Ballarat in grand final

How has pre-season been?

Matthew Blomeley: It's been good. It's probably been a bit different to other years which I think's got the girls a little bit excited for the season ahead and obviously with COVID playing a massive role through all of last year and not getting to play there's that eagerness (to return) there as well. It's been a different structure to how they've had trainings in the past and I approach drills with a few different ideas to them. (Pre-season) has probably not been as traditional as some people are used to.

What have you been focusing on at training?

It's been a lot of footwork, ball skills and trying to get a cohesive unit certainly across A and B Grade, but also all our divisions where possible.

What's going to be important for you in the early rounds of the season.

It's just giving opportunity to the group of girls we've got. Obviously we've got a few different faces and some returning faces so we just want to give them a chance to gel and become a cohesive unit. Giving them a chance to find their feet together and then a lot of positivity early on I think will be crucial for us.

Who are some of these new and returning faces?

Lavinia Fox came to us last year for the season that was called off and she's coming back again. She's playing VNL under 19s for Melbourne Uni. Emma Ryan returns to the club after a few years away. We've also had Lauren Huggins return after a few years hiatus with children. Then we've got the likes of Lauren Jew and Kate Martin returning as well. And we've added in the young gun of Milly Sharp, who's only just turned 16. She'll be an exciting player to watch as she develops over the next year.

Coach: Katie Williams

2019: 4^th (11-5)

lost to Sunbury in elimination semi-final

What's been the big focus this pre-season?

Katie Williams: The numbers have been great in pre-season, as they always are. We're just getting back into the swing of things. Compared to other pre-seasons there's plenty of excitement and everyone is just ready to get back into it. We've been working with Chris Radford a bit at the RADcentre just to make sure we're conditioned just because we've had 12 months off the court. Pre-season has really just been focused on getting individuals ready to be on the court.

How is the playing group shaping up?

We've got a mix of youth and experience. We've got some young ones coming through that are going to be 300 game players and then we've got actual 300 game players in the team. We've got Molly Boyle returning after a stint in the Goulburn Valley. It's exciting to have her back. (We've got) Remi Hooper, who was a premiership player at North Ballarat. She actually came to us last year but obviously we didn't have a season so she's set to debut. Then there's Charlotte Todd, who's coming the Lakers juniors, and was on our list last year and hasn't debuted either.

On the flip side, has there been anyone who's moved on?

Yeah, Greta Pearson has moved back to Echuca for work and we've lost a couple to pregnancies. Emma Gill and Mel Allen have both just recently had their third child which is great. It's so exciting and there are some future Lakers. So, in the past I've been a playing coach and I'm not playing this year - just coaching.

How are you feeling about going from playing to non-playing?

It's much easier. It gives me a chance to just focus on coaching. I've been playing in the BFNL for 16 years, since I was 20, so I think its time I let some of these young ones have a run and I'm more than happy to just coach.

Coach: Rachael Cross

2019: 5^th (8-8)

lost to Lake Wendouree in qualifying final

What's been the focus during pre-season?

Racheal Cross: Fitness and bonding I would say. Really just lots of fitness and lots of ball handling to get the girls more fluid with the ball since we haven't played in a while. Most of the same girls are playing again this year so a lot of them knew each other, but (there are) just different combinations. So they really need to bond so they can gel well together.

Are there any ins and outs this year?

We've brought Julia Boatman up, she's one of our captains. She played B Grade last year so she's really excited. I've also got Indya Ford returning. She's been selected in the under 19 state team and also playing Div 1 down in the VNL. I've also got Lydia Jordan. She plays for Melbourne Uni in the VNL under 19s and she's one of my key shooters.

What's going to be important for you heading into the early stages of the season?

Probably just looking at the combinations and the girls keeping their fitness up for 15 minute quarters. I don't have as many girls to rotate through this year. I'm running with a list of nine, which was strategic. I didn't want any extra. I've worked really hard on my defenders because they haven't worked together as much, after bringing Indy (Ford) into defence. But, more than anything, it's just about running the distance.

What do you think the early games are going to be like across the league?

It's hard to tell actually. I think all numbers are going to be down this year. I think until the season the starts there's going to be a lot of people thinking 'will I play, won't I play'. It's hard. I've just told all the girls our strategy is going to be coming in and playing one game at a time. I don't really know what other team's fitness will be like, and what their combinations will be like.

Coach: Lauren Prout

2019: 6^th (8-8)

lost to East Point in qualifying final

How have preparations been?

Lauren Prout: Well, it was only about three weeks ago I took on the A and B Grade coaching roles. We had nobody and our coordinatior reach out and I felt good so I though 'ok, well I'll have a crack at this'. We seem to be getting a good structure at training and we're getting good numbers. We're a bit bottom-heavy with players, well bottom-to-middle but we're still doing a little bit of recruitment and poking around with players?

What's been your big focus then coming in only a few weeks ago?

Just the three components - bit of fitness at the start, bit of ball handling and then working on some plays. In the early rounds of the season we're just going to be finding our feet with each other. It's sort of (going to be about) getting to know each other and just to find a groove and a bit of a flow with each other.

So how is the playing list shaping up?

I'm sure like all other teams we've lost a few along the way but we've also gained a couple of new, exciting A Grade players from Mansfield. Em Hutchins and Darcy Croxford. Darcy is in defence at the moment. She's a really good mid-courter but we've got her down in defence because we need her there, pretty much. Em is a mid-courter, so probably more centre and wing defence.

How excited are you for round one?

We're all excited and raring to get going. As a team we've put a few goals together and we'll work on those things and see what the outcome is. I'm not sure where all the other sides are at at the moment either. Whether they're all in the same boat as us after last season. We're all excited get going, get back on the court and see where the season takes us.

Coach: Anna Edmonds

2019: 7^th (8-8)

How has pre-season been going?

Anna Edmonds: It's been pretty good, towards the end of it. I guess gearing up towards rounds one people are a bit more enthusiastic. At the beginning it was a bit hard to drag everyone out of COVID state.

So what's been the focus during pre-season?

Just really motivating each other. Coming out of COVID people really struggled so it was just about trying to get people back out on the court. It's been really cool because we've actually been able to keep the core of the group that we had pre-COVID. So just teamwork has been our focus.

How is the playing list shaping up?

It's come together quite nicely, considering that I pretty much know everyone. We've had quite a few return. We only lost a very minimal amount of players and that's only because they're not playing, not because they've gone elsewhere. We did potentially have an old player returning to the club but she plays VNL and has actually been called up to the Collingwood Magpies squad.

What's going to important for your team in the early rounds of the season?

Just taking care of the real simple stuff that netball requires. Sometimes they want to come out being flashy, which I know we can do, but in those crucial moments we just need to play simple netball. I'm excited (about round one). It's against Bloods, our rival, so there's obviously a bit of history there. It will be interesting to see how it goes. I know Bloods have gone through a bit of a rebuilding phase and they've recruited well.

Coach: Ros Baker

2019: 8^th (5-11)

What has pre-season looked like out your way?

Ros Baker: It's been interesting, with all the COVID stuff it's been a bit interrupted. There wasn't much of a pre-season with the numbers as well. A few of our higher-end players are currently in season for the VNL. We're fortunate to have six girls currently in (the VNL) and then the local girls make up the rest of our A Grade team. With the high-end players they can't actually train with us on a Wednesday because of their loading in high performance. The team actually all came together (for the first time) in our practice match last Saturday.

I imagine bonding is going to be a big focus for you early in the season then?

We're being quite realistic, they're getting to know each other every round. We don't have the luxury of them training every week together because VNL players play on a Wednesday night when we train.

What are you expecting in the early rounds?

We just want to be competitive for the first six rounds and then see where we sit on the ladder. We'll just taking on game at a time.

How are you feeling about the first game?

I'm excited. We're playing our local rivals (Melton South), we've got a beautiful pavilion and it's a home game, so I'm excited. I've never been involved around the footy scene but I was at the season launch last Saturday and it's a really beautiful culture.

Coach: Narelle Perkins and Georgia Cann

2019: 9^th (3-13)

What has it been like getting back into the swing of things?

Georgia Cann: I think everyone has been really enthusiastic in terms of getting back into training routines. Being back at the club and surrounding yourself with like-minded people I think is always great for the mind and body so for the majority of people it's been really enjoyable to get back into it. The focus has been fitness. You can never be too fit. Narelle Perkins, my co-coach, that's her field of expertise. She's a personal trainer so that's been a really wonderful addition to our netball program. Then really it's just skill-based work (as well). The reality is people have had 12 months away from the game, if not more, so it's really just been about getting players back into refining their skills and ensuring they're ready to go.

What's going to be important for your group in the early rounds of the season?

We've got quite a new team so it's really just taking our time to settle into new combinations is going to be really important. It's a matter of reviewing how we've gone at the end of quarter and then adjusting what we need to. I think that's always the way when you've got new players coming into your team. It just means that we're going to need to be really patient in the way we play those early rounds to get ourselves into the groove and figure out how each other plays.

Who are some of these new players?

Well we've got Narelle Perkins who's coming on as playing co-coach. Maddie Davis had signed to play last year (and is coming back). She's a fantatstic defender. She's extremely agile and has fantastic elevation and speed, so that will be crucial for us in the defensive end through the centre court. Then we've had Adut Manyiel join us. She just made the 17-and-under Victorian state team and she's a Sebastopol junior. She'll be joining the A Grade team as well as Caitlin Filmer - another Sebastopol 17-and-under junior. The last one is Bianca Bodey who came across from Ballan with Narelle.

Coach: Karinna Knowles

2019: 10^th (2-14)

How has pre-season been?

Karinna Knowles: Really good. We've had a lot of numbers. (The focus) has probably been more on bonding. There's some players that haven't been around the club for a while or have even come from other clubs so it was probably a matter getting the girls to know each other.

Who are some of these new or returning faces?

I've got Ruby Perry. She hasn't been around the club for three or four years so it's nice to get her back. We've got quite a young team so just to get some experience back in it just makes a difference. I've (also) got Sarah Milton returning. She's a nice defender.

What are you trying to make the pillar of a Redan brand of netball?

I think we're strong in every aspect. We've got a strong defence, a strong attack and we're strong in the centre. So, you've got the pillars there it's just a matter of gelling as a team. You can have the best players but it's not until they're playing as a team that you know how they're going to.

It's not an easy start for you, coming up against reigning premiers North Ballarat.

No, not at all. We're definitely the underdog. We're going in as a new outfit and we've got nothing to lose. I suppose it's good for us to see what that level is and what we've to play to and know it early.

Coach: Dianne McCormack

2019: 11^th (1-15)

How has pre-season been?

Hayley Inglis (Darley netball director): It's been really good. With COVID this has been the first pre-season we've been able to do with Di. The girls have been really excited to have her and to try out some new things. They've been learning some new structures under her and she's been working through all the grades to help create a bit more consistency through the grades that we haven't had in the past. We've had to withdraw our E Grade side this year. Unfortunately we've had quite a few people pull out due to work commitments and uni and everything.

How is the A Grade list shaping up?

We're really happy with the A Grade side and how its coming together. We've got some local girls in there with a couple of recruits so we're really happy with how they're coming together and how they're working as a team. Di has come across with her daughter, Ailish McCormack. She works around the mid-court, so mostly in centre and wing-attack but she's a pretty versatile player. We're pretty excited to have her on board. We also have Jade O'Shannassy who's going to be playing in goals for us this year. She's a really strong recruit that we've picked up.

I imagine everyone is just pretty excited for netball to return this weekend?

Absolutely, really excited to get back into it. I mean it's been a long time coming with the year off but we're really excited to be at Darley Park under lights.

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