Tara Murray
A new-looking Sunbury Jets squad is coming together ahead of the Big V women’s state championship season.
The Jets like many other clubs have had a large turnover of players, with the pandemic having a massive impact.
Under new coach Ben Draper, the side will take on a very different look to previous years.
Draper said it hadn’t been the easiest start to his time at Sunbury, with the pandemic having an ongoing effect.
Like many other clubs, the Jets have found it harder to recruit players than in the past.
“There’s a lot of players who have decided they have had enough and will take some time off,” he said.
“Once you’re getting everyone back, there’s things like isolation. It’s proving to be a little bit more difficult and it’s a work in progress.
“I like a challenge.”
Draper said they had been able to sign a couple of imports who would arrive in the coming weeks.
They will also have a former player returning from college.
Swedish shooting guard Ida Andersson has been revealed as one of the Jets new signings.
Andersson first signed with the Jets in 2020 but was unable to get onto the floor due to the season’s cancellation.
Nicole Cameron has come across from Craigieburn Eagles and Draper said he thought she had been underrated in this competition.
Just a couple of players from the 2021 list remain in Emily Conn and Hannah Markov.
A couple of younger players who have been in the system will get their opportunity and have had to step up in preseason with some of the experienced players still to join the group.
“There’s a couple of younger girls who will get some opportunities,” he said.
“Imogen Wardley has done some good things. Olivia Ogston is another who is stepping up.”
Draper said despite the mixed pre-season they would take a lot of positivity to the season which gets underway this weekend.
“I’ve been impressed with the group even though we don’t have many returning players,” he said.
“With the caliber of players, this group is capable of doing something good.”
