Youth and experience set to combine for Spitfires men and women

A lack of numbers forced the association to withdraw both its men’s and women’s representative teams last season, but both have been reinstalled in 2018.

Jerry Sutherland will mentor the women’s outfit and is happy with the squad he has assembled, headlined by captains Shae Billingsley and Samantha Daly.

“There’s six first-timers in the senior rep program, which is really good,” Sutherland said.

“A lot of the kids have played for Victoria or ACT and we’ve got our older ones that have been here a few years.

“We’ve got a heap out for the first three weeks, but the ones I’ve picked up are just as good.

“We might not win every game, but we’re going to have a bit of fight in us.”

Eunyoung Kim has joined the side from Western Australia and will be one to watch in the forward line. 

Jeremy Payne and Tony Donnolley will share the coaching duties for the men’s side.

“The whole reason we stuck our hands up was to try and get it up and going and rebuild,” Donnolley said.

“We didn’t want to see it die, we’ve both put so much time into it previously and to have it fold last year was pretty hard to take.

“We didn’t have anyone sticking up their hand to coach, so we said to each other let’s do it.”

Payne added the squad consists of around 30 players, with 16 picked to play each weekend.

“There’s been a few kids that really want to step us this year and give it a go, which is great for the association and the Spitfires,” Payne said.

“There’s even been some veterans like Matt Bardy returning who played a few years ago and are back to have another go at it too.

“I’m confident of a mid-table finish and that will be a good start to what we’re trying to work through for the next two or three years by getting everyone introduced to the elite level.

“They’ve got the AHL (Australian Hockey League) with the Canberra Lakers and Canberra Strikers, which is the pathway to the national level.”

Recent Victorian under 18s national championship winner Oscar Smart is set to make a statement, along with Adelaide recruit Tom Browne.

“With the way the team is structured and the core being a smaller amount, there will be guys that will play every week,” Payne said.

“Through that, we’re going to feed in some of the younger guys, give them game time and get them ready for what’s to come.

“If we take it in the right direction, it’s only going to be good for Albury-Wodonga, for hockey and all the juniors coming through because it has died off a little bit.”

The women’s game starts at 2pm, while the Spitfires men have a bye in the opening round and will begin their season at home against the Tuggeranong Vikings next weekend.