ALBURY
Coach: Sarah Moore
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Last year: 2nd (5th after regular season)
Gains: Karina Cameron, Emily Rodd (Tallangatta), Rebekah Ohlin (year off), Kaitlin McIntosh (Wodonga)
Losses: Bridget Aughton (Torquay), Brigetta Hart
Prospects: The finals series was an enormous confidence boost to the Tigers and even though they couldn't snare the title, they should be able to retain a top three spot. There was talk over summer that former coach Olivia Aughton wasn't playing, but the defender is definitely staying. However, fellow defender Brigetta Hart has left, but Rebekah Ohlin is a natural replacement. The Tigers have, in fact, picked up three Tallangatta premiership players, with Emily Rodd showing her class in the thrilling grand final win. Rodd displayed tremendous composure in the extra-time win over Kiewa Sandy Creek and that will stand her in good stead.
Prediction: 2nd
COROWA-RUTHERGLEN
Coach: Georgie Bruce
Last year: 6th
Gains: Jess Bice (Narrandera), Grace Senior (North Albury), Rebecca O'Connell (Billabong Crows), Jenny Barrett (Thurgoona), Annie Bell, Brooke Ollington (season off), Jenni Vine (Thurgoona)
Losses: Steph Clancy (Lavington), Claire Wilson (Wagga for university)
Prospects: The Roos have just missed finals the past two years, so they don't need much to step up. Experience has been the crucial factor missing and the club has picked up enormous leadership in Rebecca O'Connell, who led the Billabong Crows to their first A grade flag in the Hume League. But Grace Senior is the key recruit from North Albury. Senior topped the Ovens and Murray's scoring aggregate with 678 goals last season and finished equal second in the shooting percentages behind Albury's Jess Fisher-Curnow. And Jess Bice won the Riverina's best on court two years ago at rep level, so the club couldn't be better placed to push back into finals after a five-year drought.
Prediction: 3rd
LAVINGTON
Coach: Tamara Mathews
Last year: 3rd (minor premiers)
Gains: Steph Clancy (Corowa-Rutherglen), Angela DeMamiel (returning from time off), Skye Hillier (back from injury), Sally Kapay (Lavington)
Losses: Rhiannon Dolahenty, Kate Yensch (pregnant), Ainslee O'Connell (Queensland), Alison Meani (year off)
Prospects: The Panthers had three interleague defenders and they've now lost two of them. Rhiannon Dolahenty and Kate Yensch are pregnant and players of that calibre are impossible to replace. Lavington was already the 'nearly' team of the past two years. In fact, in the last two regular seasons the Panthers haven't lost a game, yet still don't have a flag. That is extraordinarily rare. It won't be easy, particularly if they make the top three again, but Lavington has to forget its finals woes. You can talk about it as much as you like during the season, but the only way to get that monkey off the back is to win a final.
Prediction: 4th
MYRTLEFORD
Coach: Matt Koers
Last year: 9th
Gains: Steph Laracy (Corowa-Rutherglen in 2017)
Losses: Amber Quirk (overseas travel), Grace Taberner, Bridget Flint-Chapman (Bright), Rhiannon McIlroy (Perth)
Prospects: Just like the football, there's a buzz around the netball, which is a credit to the club given it didn't play finals in either. The Saints have a new coach in Matt Koers and there's genuine excitement with a fresh face. However, the club has lost all its defenders, including last year's co-coach Bridget Flint-Chapman and Grace Taberner. Sophie Cappellari and Rebecca Piazza are the likely players to step up from B grade. Piazza is a former rep player who will handle the rise in class.
Prediction: 9th
NORTH ALBURY
Coach: Fiona Boyer
Last year: 5th (4th after regular season)
Gains: Emma and Georgie Schulz, Tiarne McPherson (year off)
Losses: Grace Senior (Corowa-Rutherglen), Hollie Kinning (work commitments), Molly Goldsworthy (Sydney), Amelia Unthank (Melbourne), Sara-Jane Farrell (Thurgoona), Jordann Johnson (Newcastle), Sally Kapay (Lavington)
Prospects: North's position as perennial finalists hasn't come under more pressure in recent years. The Hoppers have just two players remaining from A grade - centre court player Kirby Hilton and defender Elyse Boyer. It's the biggest turnover of any club. Grace Senior bolted in the goal-scoring, but has moved to Corowa-Rutherglen. The club has also lost players to major cities, such as Molly Goldsworthy, but that shows the club's ability to produce outstanding talent. For many clubs the losses would automatically mean missing finals, but the Hoppers boast a junior nursery to match any club. Mid-courter Tayla Vogel, defender Maddie Pearson and Alana Wilson all played B grade and are terrific talents. The club will stress to its younger players there's positions available.
Prediction: 6th
WANGARATTA
Coach: Kellie Keen
Last year: 1st (2nd after regular season)
Gains: N/A
Losses: Mikaela Trethowan (football)
Prospects: The most stable side over summer with just the one loss, so there's no reason the club can't retain the title. The Pies timed their run superbly, thrashing Yarrawonga in the qualifying final, edging out red-hot favourites Lavington in the second semi before posting a double-figure win over the Tigers. Amanda Umanski was superb in the decider, firing 42 of the 46 goals. The Pies had never won a title in the competition's 25 years - just like Albury - so it was a credit to the players and coaching staff they remained so cool under pressure, playing their own game. Keen's effort in lifting the club was a tremendous effort. After a finals drought, the Pies jumped back into the top five in 2016 and have quickly gained the ascendancy in the league.
Prediction: 1st
WANGARATTA ROVERS
Coach: Ashlee Martin
Last year: 8th
Gains: Mik Cose (Melbourne), Briony Henderson (year off)
Losses: Jami Hunt (Milawa)
Prospects: The Hawks have a new coach in Ashlee Martin, who impressed on court last year. The trick now - for any first-year coach - is to be the best player possible and hopefully have enough support off the court to enable Martin to totally focus on her play. There's been a reshuffle at the club with a number of players from A grade set to play other grades. Rovers started last year superbly, winning four of their first five games, including a rare win over powerhouse Yarrawonga. However, the Hawks didn't win one of their final 13, nailing just a draw. Martin will look for a similar fast start, but the club simply has to find a way to scratch out a few more wins when they don't look likely. The addition of Mik Cose in attack, Briony Henderson from time off and Morgan Byrne from under 16s should be enough to see the club improve on last year's sluggish finish.
Prediction: 8th
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WODONGA
Coach: Shea Cunningham
Last year: 10th
Gains: N/A
Losses: Kylie Murphy (Yackandandah), Kaitlin McIntosh (Albury)
Prospects: Shea Cunningham is now in her third year and it's been a tough time in recent years after the club lost so many of its 2014 premiership team. The club will base its year on nurturing the junior talent. Attacking player Maddie Macfarlane and centre court player Abi Adams will be among those chasing senior action. It might take a year or two but, given the amount of talent Wodonga has in its junior grades, the club should start pushing its way back towards the top five.
Prediction: 10th
WODONGA RAIDERS
Coach: Jodie House
Last year: 7th
Gains: Zoe Rae (returning after time off)
Losses: Lilly Grigg (university), Alyce Parker (AFLW)
Prospects: Since claiming a winless wooden spoon in 2014, the club has been building. Raiders have finished seventh in three of the past four years, but you feel the club is slowly improving. Second-year coach Jodie House has been working hard at developing a strong culture and instilling belief in the younger players. Vashti Muller was outstanding at times last year and if she can continue her climb, the club has a potential long-time star. The club also suffered a number of close losses, so if it can turn a few of those into wins, it could break a long finals drought, which would be an enormous achievement.
Prediction: 7th
YARRAWONGA
Coaches: Laura Irvine and Kaitlyn Cummins
Last year: 4th (3rd after regular season)
Gains: Rebecca Davis (returning after time off), Elle Brooks (Shepparton United), Laura Irvine (back from having a baby), Annalise Grinter (back from injury)
Losses: Kylie Leslie (just had a baby), Lauren Mulquiney (retired)
Prospects: After a record-shattering 11 successive grand finals, including seven premierships, the club finally had the streak broken when it fell to Albury in the first semi. That wasn't unexpected, given the losses over the previous off-season, including coach Bridget Cassar, who had a baby, and Toni Wilson medallist Hannah Symes. But Yarrawonga is a proud club and it won't be happy about falling out in straight sets. The return of sisters Laura Irvine and Annalise Grinter (nee Bourke) adds tremendous firepower. Cassar has stepped down from the A grade coaching. Kaitlyn Cummins will join her sibling Irvine as the only co-coaches in the league. The club has also picked up Goulburn Valley young gun Elle Brooks. The shooter won best on court in the GV's win over Ovens and Murray in last year's under 18 rep match. Like a number of clubs, the Pigeons also boast a rich junior nursery with Lilly Sharp and Eliza York expected to see regular A grade action. Defender Sharp will also play football with the Bushrangers. The loss of Kylie Leslie, who's just had a baby, is monumental after she was recently named in the Team of the Past 25 Years while popular club stalwart Lauren Mulquiney has retired after passing 250 A grade games in style last season.
Prediction: 5th
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