IT WILL be a busy weekend for local netball players with the opening two rounds of the inaugural Peel Netball League (PNL) to be held on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
The PNL will be run in conjunction with the Alcoa Peel Football League with a League and Reserves team representing each club (with the expectation of Rockingham, which is still looking for players).
All of the teams will converge at the Mandurah Aquatic and Recreation Centre on Friday for a special opening round with Reserves starting at 6.30pm followed by the League at 7.45pm.
Round two to be on Saturday and Sunday and will follow the football schedule with games played in the nearby recreation centres.
The season will run for 14 rounds, slightly shorter than the football season, with teams playing each other twice.
The model of the competition came from Victoria and South Australia where football and netball clubs have successfully been combined for a long time.
On Friday Pinjarra play Waroona, South Mandurah come up against Baldivis, Mandurah play Halls Head and Mundijong has a bye due to Rockingham’s player shortage.
In round two Waroona play South Mandurah, Baldivis versus Pinjarra, Mundijong play Halls Head and Mandurah have a bye.
To register interest players can contact their local football club, go to the Peel Netball League’s Facebook page or contact Jodi Dunlop on 0418 310 318.
Coordinator/player: Sophie Howlett
Captain: Ronnie-Lee TeRangi
Howlett said the team was looking strong ahead of the season launch.
“The League team was selected two months ago and we have now filled a Reserves team,” she said. “Ideally we’d like to win the flag. We’re looking competitive. We have a sharp looking defence and a good shooter.
Howlett said the goal was to support the competition and keep it going in the future.
Coach: Nicole McGoran
Coordinator/player: Melanie Myhill
Myhill said Halls Head had been training two nights a week in preparation of the season.
“We’ve been training pretty hard and putting in a lot of effort,” she said. “We only have a couple of girls who have never played before, most of the girls play two or three times a week.”
Myhill said the team would like to succeed but said it was hard to tell where they sit before round one.
Coach: Dot O’Sullivan, Lynn Strother
Captain: Jess Gibson, Tellisha Mitchell
Gibson said Mandurah had a great turn out for pre-season training and have been able to field two teams comfortably.
“There’s lots of excitement amongst the players, we are all looking forward to finally getting the chance to play together as most of our girls are new to the Mandurah Mustangs Club,” she said.
“Our aim at Mandurah is foremost to get more ladies involved in and around the club, believing we will not only be competitive on the court but being apart of a club atmosphere will be an enjoyable experience for everyone involved.”
Captain/ Coach: Mel Parry
Head committee member/player: Mel Tanner
Tanner said the squad started training later than most of the other teams but were in good shape.
“We’re pretty much on track,” she said.
“A few girls work shift work so haven’t been able to get to all the trainings. We will be out there to win; the League team has a strong group of players with a netball background.”
Coach: Ngahuia Hughes
Captain: Yet to be decided
Hughes, who has coached netball in the Goldfields, said Pinjarra would be going out to win.
“I don’t like losing so we want to win,” she said. “We have a very strong defence and midfield, so I think we will be pretty competitive.”
Hughes said she was surprised at just how much attention the competition had received, especially in Pinjarra.
“Netball doesn’t seem to be that strong in the Pinjarra area, but there has been a lot of interest,” she said. “The girls are really looking forward to the first game.”
Coach: Carrie Griffen
Coordinator/player: Jacki Daw
Daw said the team was looking forward to the first round.
“We have been training for seven weeks; we’re looking pretty good but we don’t know what to expect from the other teams,” she said.
The League team will be made up of a group of girls that played regularly together with the Reserves made up of Mandurah Magic players.
“Our goal will be to win,” she said.
The teams will also be wearing black arm bands on Friday night in respect for the late Steve Bazzo.
Coach: Jane McIntyre
Captain: Jodi Dunlop
Dunlop said training had been strong with team members making a big effort to get down to the courts and work on court structures, fitness, skills and drills. “Our teams are all on the same page with our big picture goal being to make both the League and Reserves grand final and ultimately win,” Dunlop said.
“We’ve got a lot of work to do ahead of us to reach this but we’ve set smaller goals to break it down.”
“All in all its setting up to be a very exciting season and encourage everyone to come along, support their teams and enjoy some great netball.”
