By Tara Murray
Woodend-Hesket is continuing to stick to the task at hand in the Riddell District Netball League.
The two-time defending champions have kept several of their premiership stars but have added a number of new faces across all their grades.
Playing coach Ty Coppinger said it had been a really good off season across the whole club.
“We’ve been building connections throughout the off season,” he said. There’s new faces who have come in and taken their opportunities.
“Kaia [Giles] is a young goaler and we’ve added another goaler as well [Natalie McDonald]. The attacking end looks quite different.
“We’ve also given an opportunity to one of the B-grade girls, Jessica Martin. She was amazing last season and even the season before and she comes up into A-grade.”
The Hawks started the season with a win against Melton Centrals before having the weekend off due to playing on Good Friday.
Coppinger said they were happy with the 59-38 first up performance.
“We were happy with the result,” she said. “Going into round one and not knowing what to expect.
“You have to put it into game play on court, it looks different in practice matches.”
Rebecca Hicks, who was a star goaler in the league previously with the Western Rams and Romsey. played for the Hawks in the win.
Coppinger said didn’t rule out Hicks playing for them again saying they would see that looks like over the season, with Hicks spending much of the off season with the club.
While they’ve come off two straight premierships, Coppinger said nothing changes for them.
“It doesn’t matter whether you are a youngster or have 10 years experience, we have a game plan that we want to stick to,” she said. “Not only as an individual but with the people around and we have to keep each other accountable.
“Everyone has an individual role and a role as a team.”
It’s a stop start first few weeks for the Hawks, who play two games across the first month with the split round across round two and a bye in round three.
Coppinger said they were looking forward to the Good Friday clash with Kyneton.
“It’s always a big game against them.”
In exciting times for the Hawks, their new netball courts are set to be completed in the coming weeks.
Coppinger said they should be ready for their third home game against Romsey in May.
“The two courts have been a long time coming,” she said. “Kellie [Duff] did so much hard work as did other people behind the scenes.
“To have a space right down here the club rooms will be nice.”
