City West Falcons’ championship side is back for the Victorian Netball League season, but fans should expect a glimpse of the future.
The Falcons, who are coming off their fourth straight championship, have re-signed all of the championship side from last season.
Midcourter Soli Ropati, who is coming off a serious knee injury, is also back in the side.
Georgia Berry, who most recently played for the Western Warriors, and former AFLW player Olivia Barber round out the championship squad.
Falcons’ coach Marg Lind said it would be a little bit of an unknown heading into the season.
“Winning five championships will not be easy,” she said.
“It’s a good opportunity to give some young ones some experience while the others are there.
“We’ll look to blood some young ones. We’re preparing for the future and it’s a little bit of a changing of the guard.”
Lind said they were keen to bring in some younger players so that they don’t have a real big drop off in the next couple of years.
Defender Achel Yout and goaler Lani Fauonuku, who have both been named in the 23-and-under squad but are set to move between the two grades.
Lind said Fauonuku, who is training partner for the Melbourne Mavericks reserves side, had shown a fair bit in only a few sessions, while she thought Yout could really shine.
Lind said Molly Moylan, who is part of the under-19 state side, was another that might get her opportunity in her first season with the Falcons.
Barber and Berry will add to the Falcons defensive end.
Barber is still raw coming from first, a basketball and then football background, but would add a lot of height.
Berry returns to her former club.
“She asked to train with us,” Lind said. “She adds a bit of experience.
“She had time out of the game after an ACL before having a season with the Warriors a couple of years ago.”
Lind said they felt their line up would be a week-by-week proposition.
The Falcons kick off their title defence against Hawks on 11 March which will be a grand final rematch. The Hawks were the only team to beat the Falcons last season.
While unsure how the championship side would go, Lind said they were excited for the 23-and-under side.
She said they’d been able to add in some real good local talent to the squad.
Imogen Sexton, Ella Leith and Manon Muir are all in the squad this year after making their VNL debuts last season and showing plenty of potential.
They’ve also added Tully Bethune, who previously been part of the under-17 state team and Werribee Centrals defender Alual Garang.
Abhi Sanjeev joins from Geelong under-19s and is another player Lind is looking forward to seeing.
