New Macedon coach Ciara Stewart is confident her team will be one of the teams to beat in the Riddell District Netball League next year.
Stewart, who was appointed to the role in September, has quickly made an impact at the club which played off in this year’s A-grade grand final.
Stewart comes from coaching Winchelsea in the Geelong and District Football League, while she is also coach at the Plenty Valley Comets in the Parkville Premier League
Only one of this year’s A-grade grand final side, Kym Grant, has been named in the Cats’ top squad for next year.
“Unfortunately some of the girls have decided to travel elsewhere to play or have decided to stop playing all together,” Stewart said.
“It’s a little disappointing. Lucky for me I come from clubs, Plenty Valley Comets and Winchelsea, where players have wanted to come across and play.
“There was five or six of them who came across and trialed like everyone else. Everyone who got selected got picked on merit.”
Many of the new line up have taken the court together before.
“Five of the girls coming in, including myself, have played together before,” Stewart said.
“We’ve had two training sessions so far and there have been some good combinations. There are new fresh players, while some of the girls have come up from B-grade and under-19s.”
Among those joining the club is Chloe Wilson who was the division 1 most valuable player at Parkville, while defender Janelle Birch was runner up in the GDFL’s best and fairest award.
Leanna Ali, who is originally from Cairns, will play in the A-grade side and coach the C-grade and under-19 teams.
The A-grade side isn’t the only Cats netball team which will have a new look.
“The B-grade side looks a little different,” Stewart said. “We’ve got three new players, plus Tarryn [Mackie] who played A-grade side this year in that team.
“There are four new girls in the under-19 side.”
Even though this will be Stewart’s first season involved in the RDNL, she is well aware of many of the players and teams, being she is a Sunbury resident.
“Some of the Lancefield girls play in the Premier netball competition and I’ve played against a lot of the girls,” she said.
Stewart said she was looking forward to what is ahead for the Cats.
“We are building a new culture,” she said.
“Training is compulsory for everyone and there will be a new uniform and a training camp.
“Teams aren’t set. If you don’t go to training or do the work, there’s room to move grades.
“I expect to be in the finals for A and B-grade. We can only get better from last year.
“I think it’ll be a two year process to be where we need to be.”
