2024 netball squad

The netball season is shaping up to be another positive and successful year for the club, with a top 5 finish expected for both A squad teams yet again, and a much more positive outlook for B Squad teams this year as well.  Exciting things are also happening in our junior netball space with a 17&U team full to the brim with new young talent, and a 15&U development team for the first time in a number of years, who will compete in the CVNA Winter Competition on a Friday night in Bendigo.  

recruitment

A squad was a clear priority leading into the recruitment phase of the season having lost the majority of last season’s squad. We have managed to retain most of our local A squad talent, including our 2024 A Grade Captain Brianna Pedretti, Bendigo Strikers representatives Megan Wilson, Charlotte McMurray and Kyla Byrne, and mid court superstars Caitie Richardson, Taylah Sartori, Kirby Jeffries and Rachelle McLean. In the mix are some solid recruits including former HDFNL A Grade guns Lara Daly and Serryn Eenjes, Amelia Britt, the young defensive star with a beautiful reach, and Sarah Stace, supermum of three kids and an amazing GS with many years of experience under her belt.  Perhaps most excitingly is the movement of several of our season 23 17&U players into our A squad, including Sarah McLean, Madi Clifford and Olivia Henderson.  The talent and work rate of these young stars is a fantastic sign of the strong future this club has ahead of it. This squad has all the time in the world to develop together and we have a clear opportunity to contribute to many years of finals success and dare we say it, chase that premiership win that Castlemaine has never quite been able to achieve.

The main goal of B Squad this year was to increase depth and experience across both teams. With a 20-player list, depth has absolutely been achieved as we have picked up a number of new players including 2024 B Grade Captain Tessa Fisken, a formidable midcourter with plenty of high-level netball experience under her belt, Chloe Sanderson, another young, dynamic goaler with a bright future ahead of her, and Jessie Kocsis, a versatile mid courter and defender who goes in hard at the ball every time. Together with key season 2023 players Aria Jumpertz, Kristie Lennon, Shae Denahy, Paige Mitchener, Emily Cooper and Georgia Roberts, the outlook on season 2024 is one of significant success.

With a 17&U squad to be excited about, we have picked up a number of new players including Alana Fletcher, an extremely versatile player who shows a level of tenacity well beyond her years, defensive duo Madeline Springate and Rosie Jarvis, hailing from Harcourt and bringing premiership winning experience with them, Paige McMahon as a holding GS who is tough as nails and determined to prove herself in the BFNL, and Anna Elliot and Ella Rixon as silent assassins in the midcourt with an exceptional level of fitness and determination. This new playing group is nicely complemented by our remaining season 23 players, 2024 17&U Captain Kyla Byrne, who is building an impressive netball resume at only 16 years of age, currently representing Bendigo Strikers in the 23&U development team and a key player in the 2024 NCR 17&U State Title team, Vice-Captain Olivia Henderson who is making her mark as a creative playmaker in both goals and the midcourt, and Lori Whaley, a courageous midcourter with plenty of fire in her belly.

preseason

The focus of pre-season 2024 has been on developing an aggressive attacking playing style that capitalises on the winning combination of the speed and athletic ability of our young squad, with precise decision making and expert ball handling under pressure. With solid defensive systems already in place courtesy of Fiona Fowler’s tutelage over the past two years, we have been working on increasing our defensive pressure outside of the ring as a defensive unit. This strategy has already begun to pay off as not only have we have seen continuous improvement at training, but also excellent results in the three practice matches we have engaged in so far against Harcourt, Marong and White Hills. B Grade remain impressively undefeated so far, after seeing a dramatic improvement to our front end.

2024 Vice-Captain Aria Jumpertz is thriving surrounded by our new, and significantly more experienced mid court, and the defensive end remains dominant in the very safe hands of Shae Denahy and Chloe Hughes. B Reserve are also starting to connect nicely, with two victories under their belt, only coming undone to Marong in extremely hot conditions. Again, we have seen significant improvement to the front end of B Reserve, with Taylah Rennie really beginning to show some serious stardom in GA, and the likes of 2024 B Reserve Captain Emily Cooper and Vice-Captain Georgia Roberts running a muck through the mid court.

A squad had a convincing victory against an incredibly experienced Marong side, with an unstoppable defensive unit lead by 2024 A Grade Vice Captain Charlotte McMurray and an exciting display by young goalers Madi Clifford and Olivia Henderson. Both girls held their nerve under pressure and dominated up front. A squad put on a stunning show against White Hills, an experienced, physical and star-studded opponent who provided our first true test. While narrowly defeated, there were some impressive performances by 2024 A Reserve Vice Captain Rachelle McLean, who dominated in WA taking control of the circle edge and getting off show stopping feeds. Sarah Stace and Brianna Pedretti worked their magic in the ring yet again, with Sarah sinking goals from the car park all night. Defensive pressure was again on point, this time dominated by 2024 A Reserve Captain Serryn Eenjes, Lara Daly and Kirby Jefferies, with some serious pressure being laid on through the midcourt. We look forward to our remaining two practice matches against North Bendigo and Maiden Gully and are particularly excited for our 17&U team to have an opportunity to engage in some match play against these two tough opponents.

In addition to our hard work on the court, there has also been a massive focus on team building, goal setting, player wellbeing, and continuing to improve our culture as a netball club, and wider club community. Above all else, the netball club is beyond excited at the prospect of the male football success that is sure to come in season 2024. As a new era of CFNC rises, we can’t wait for this to be a shared experience across all of the clubs sporting endeavours as we start to fill up our trophy cabinet.