It’ll be the baby Bombers for Riddell in the Riddell District Netball League this season.
After three straight grand finals, the Bombers have looked to promote some of their young talent into the A-grade squad to fill some voids.
Tilly Allen, who made her A-grade debut this season, will be part of a new goaling end.
Allen is a reserve for the under-17 state team this season as a bottom age player.
Hayley Brown, Holly Poyser and Sienna Phelan-Smith, who were all part of the Bombers B-grade premiership last season, are also stepping up.
Phelan-Brown, who was best on court in the under-19 grand final in 2024, played her first full season of senior netball last season.
Brown and Poyser were also part of the Bombers under-19s side last season along with Allen.
Poyser will be part of the Bombers midcourt, while Brown will be in goals and Phelan-Smith in defence.
New Bombers coach Chris O’Sullivan said it was exciting to see those players step up this season.
“There was already talent at our club, so we thought why not give them the opportunity,” he said.
“They had to double check whether I was serious or not when I said we were promoting them.”
“We had our first training session and they were quite impressive.
“Those stepping up from B-grade were the ones setting the standard.
“They had to double check whether I was serious or not when I said we were promoting them.”
O’Sullivan said that Allen was likely to continue playing in their under-19 side as well.
Shelby Holter, who was the leading scorer, grand final most valuable player and league best and fairest winner in B-grade, will step back up into the top grade this season.
The new coach said the those stepping up from B-grade already understood how to stand up in big games with multiple premierships.
Ellen Haynes (nee Close), Brianna De Haas and Mady Brown all return from last season.
Brown has been named in the A-grade team of the year the past two seasons, while Haynes is a league best and fairest winner.
Amelia Haxby, who made her A-grade debut for Wallan last season, has also joined the Bombers.
O’Sullivan said they were still working on their defensive end following the departures of Georgia Shattock, Fionnula McKeagney-Stubbs, Xara and Eliza Burge, and Lauren Nolan.
“We have a couple of defenders training with us who have put their hands up for us to have a look at,” he said.
“They fit the young and energetic group we have.”
O’Sullivan will coach the Bombers’ A-grade, B-grade and C-grade sides this season.
While it will be a big workload, he said there would be plenty of benefits.
“It will bring continuity all the way through the senior grades,” he said.
“We will play the one way and play hard. C-grade can step into B-grade and B-grade can step into A-grade and still feel confident that the structure will stay the same.”
