PRESIDENTS REPORT

We head into the 2023 Western Border Netball Associaon season with mixed emoons.

On one hand we will be celebraon the associaon’s 40th anniversary and there are some special celebraons in the works as we look back and those who did the hard yards to establish and develop the compeon to those who have come since, rolling up their sleeves and ensuring the compeon connuedtosurviveandthrive.

On the other hand, it is the 40th and final season for the associaon in its current form but we can only stay posive and connue to workwiththefootballtocreateavisionanda framework for the 20024 season and beyond.

The Western Border Netball Associaon has produced some elite talent over those four decades that have gone on to much higher honours – the latest of those being Lucy Denton as part of the South Australian gold medal winning 19 & under team at this month’snaonalchampionship.

We have a large cohort of Western Border alumni playing in the Premier League and Premier League Reserves compeons in 2023 and the likes of Natalie Medhurst, Khao Was and Nyah Allen have made their mark or are sll making their mark in the now Suncorp Super Netball compeon – the bestdomesccompeonintheworld.

Across three junior age groups and seniors, the Western Border Netball Associaon has built an unparalleled resume of sustained success at the SA Country Netball Championships and we will be looking to do thatagainin2023.

W e a r e a l s o looking forward to a n o t h e r compeve season across all 10 grades andhopefully,aswedidin2022,wewillhave everyclublinedupongrandfinalday

Thanks to all the club volunteers, players, coaches, umpires and other officials that connuetoworkhardtoensuretheWestern Border Netball Associaon has a strong, smoothlyruncompeon.

AsarelavenewfacetoWesternBorder,Iam excitedtohavetakenontheroleofpresident for the 2023 season and look forward to working with my execuve and club officials toensurethisisaseasontoremember

JillPaul

The bad news for the rest of the Western Border Netball Association competition is reigning premiers West Gambier are returning to their club’s new courts in 2023 with the premiership line-up from 2022.

So the Roos will unveil their newly redeveloped courts and their premiership flag as they start the season as the clear competitionbenchmark. The challenge for all teams, and this weekend, more specifically, Casterton Sandford is just how to break down what is a well-oiled machine.

Defensively, West Gambier denies time and space for opponents courtesy of the right checking tenacity of mid courters Tara Bryant and Zoe Malseed and the star pairing ofAmyCramandJadeRitterin the defensive circle, with the Roos duo dominating the air

West Gambier West Gambier

Blue & Red

and also getting the job done ontheground.

At the other end, Sarah Ritter poses the biggest headache for all defenders in the competition, with her strength on the hold and accuracy from long range and when she has Lisa McGregor, who is a dangerous scoring option in her own right, delivering the ball to her shooting partner, it is hard to deny Ritter a match winning amountofball.

Mikaela Horrigan is also creative with ball in hand and can be relied upon to create some havoc defensively through the mid court so it is certainly going to be a tough askforanewlookCatsline-up. Dani Russell has taken the helm at Island Park and will also bring her experience and smartstothewingattackrole. Russell will have spent the off season working on building

Casterton-Sandford Casterton-Sandford Blue, White & Red

Vchemistry with a new look frontline for the Cats with Chloe Foster, who spent some time on the A Grade court last year, combining with her former junior shooting partner Chelsey Galpin in the shootingcircle.

Galpin is a welcome addition to the Cats top grade line-up –the former runaway 15 & Under B WBNA best & fairest, is coming off a season in the Geelong Football Netball League where she took out the19&underbestandfairest and her speed and athleticism in the goal attack role will add a new look to the Casterton Sandfordattackingline.

Galpin’s return after a couple of seasons away also frees up experience utility Madalene Cleary to run the centre role where her leadership will be critical, as will her ability to deliver the ball with precision and creativity and her strong defensivemindset.

The defensive line is the most stable for the Cats 2023 team with young guns Caeleigh Humphries and Ebany Jarrad teaming up again Their willingness to contest every ball will see opposition teams constantly under pressure in theshootingcircle.

The defensive duo’s job will also rely on the outside pressure from Cleary and new face to Island Park – Libby Altorfer – who was part of the club’s women’s football program.

To have a settle premiership line-up, taking on a new look, inexperienced line-up sees Westclearfavouritesbutitwill be a good hit out for Cats to find out exactly where the work needs to be done as the seasonprogresses.

East Gambier is hosting 2022 runners up Millicent – the Bulldogs fielding a new look line-upagainstaSaintsline-up that, while missing multi premiership players Hannah and Paige Nitschke, who have movedtoAdelaideforstudy,is still full of familiar faces and plentyofexperience.

East has Bo Creek and Tarsh McCallum at the helm in 2023 and the 2021 premiership teammates are still working with a squad as they look to findthebestfitforthisseason.

With no Amryn Bosko and Tyne Bosko, there were some gaps to fill and there are new faces to the competition that willbetakingonthattask.

Reigning WBNA A Grade best andfairestEmilyHunterisalso a huge loss with the star mid courter having headed to Robe to play alongside her sister