Round one of the Ovens and Murray netball season will be a special occasion for Lavington.
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The Panthers have three players celebrating milestones when they face Wangaratta in the season opener, with A graders Ainslee O’Connell and Courtney Mason reaching the 100-game mark, while Erin Haberecht plays her 150th in B grade.
Mason has been promoted to A grade this year, but has had a particularly tough run to her century, suffering a serious knee injury in the 2015 pre-season which required a reconstruction.
“She came back last year and has gone into A grade this year, so it’s a really good story of sticking at it and overcoming injury,” Panthers coach Tamara Mathews said.
“Ainslee had a ripper of a season last year in A grade, she’s a dynamic wing attack and we’ve really seen her step up and mature.
“Erin Haberecht is another player who came to us young and has progressed through the grades.”
Mathews said the Panthers have kept a core group of experienced players for the upcoming season, with a few new faces coming on board.
The return of Kate Yensch is one of the recruits of the off-season, with the star defender overcoming chronic fatigue syndrome and set to play for the first time since mid-2015 due to the condition.
Caitlyn Gerecke is another young player who has come across into the mid-court from the Albury Tigers’ under 16s.
Maddy Lloyd has signed from Murray Magpies, while goal shooter Alison Meani has made the move from Sydney.
“There’s a few new faces in our team, but we’re really excited with the girls we’ve got and the combinations we’ll be able to put on the court,” Mathews said.
“We’ve kept our tall defenders in Sarah Meredith and Rhi Dolahenty and Kate Yensch comes back into that group.
“She (Yensch) is really excited, I think the time away from netball has really freshened things up for her.
“They played in a premiership together in 2013, so it’s nice to have them back together.
“Obviously at the other end, we’ve kept Sarah Senini and Skye Hillier.
“Where our new players fit in is spread evenly across the court, so it’s really exciting.”
Mathews added Wangaratta will provide a stern test.
“We know they are going to be a top five side this year,” she said.
“They’re a young, fast, fit side, so we know we’re going to have our work cut out for us first up, but it will be a good test to see where we’re at.
“I think we will certainly be aiming for top two, given we played off in a grand final last year.
“It will be a tight competition with lots of clubs in the mix.”
The rest of round one sees Albury take on Wodonga Raiders, Yarrawonga hits the road to face Myrtleford, Wodonga and Wangaratta Rovers meet at Wodonga, while North Albury hosts Corowa-Rutherglen.