It’s here.
Round one of the Murray Netball League season has arrived and a clash between the reigning premier and a club hopeful of storming up the ladder will headline the weekend’s action.
Tongala, the 2023 champion, will host a Nathalia side with a point to prove after adding several quality Goulburn Valley players, such as Georgia and Breanne Walpole, Amy Brooks, Rebecca Bohn (Shepparton United) and Ashlee Cann (Shepparton), during the off-season.
On the sidelines, the Purples also have gained an experienced coaching line-up with Tracey Brereton and Kara Blizzard co-coaching.
The last time these two clubs met was like a knock-off version of Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s recently repopularised hit: ‘Murder on the Courtfloor’.
But Tongala did dominate the round 11 match last season, defeating Nathalia 65-35.
Heading into this round one match-up, Purples co-coach Blizzard said her side wouldn’t be at full strength against Tongala due to injuries, but that doesn’t concern the new coach.
“Unfortunately, we won’t have our full strong team on the weekend as we are still trying to work it all out and we have had a few floating injuries,” Blizzard said.
“We are very lucky that we have a very versatile team and we have got great B-grade players if we need to bring any of them up to cover some of these spots.
“It’s one of those unknown things when starting the season for any team, not knowing who the other teams have recruited or all those types of things as well.
“We are excited to just hit the court more than anything as a new bunch of teammates and, obviously, I’m new to the club and Tracey has come back and we have new additions, so we are super excited.”
At the start of a new season (and for Nathalia, a new era also), it can be tricky to know how much emphasis to put on early results.
While on one hand, wins to start the year are always desired, Blizzard believes forming a connection between teammates is equally important as the Purples prepare to push for finals in 2024.
“If you ask Tracey and I, we have encouraged our girls to take a step back and get out there and get to know each other as a team and not so much focus on the opposition and the end result,” she said.
“More getting out there and combining on court with what we have been practising at training.
“We will get a bit of a crowd, hopefully, for a Good Friday game and just the excitement in all of that is what we are probably focusing on more for round one.”
In other Good Friday matches, Congupna will face a tough start to the season when it makes the trip across the border to face last year’s grand finalist Mulwala.
Further along the border, a cross-town rivalry will take place at Moama Recreation Reserve when Moama hosts Echuca United.
It is likely to be a close encounter, given that both sides made finals last season, finishing in fifth and sixth place, respectively.
Numurkah will have its hands full when it takes on a Rumbalara side that will be seeking redemption after an early finals exit last year.
Despite finishing in 11th place last season, Finley will look to start its campaign with a win when it plays Deniliquin at Hardinge St Oval.
The Cats will be hoping that the additions of Goulburn Valley guns Chelsea McDonald (Shepparton Swans) and Jasmine and Sienna Burke (Mooroopna) will help the side return to finals.
In the last match of the round and the only one played on Saturday, Cobram will head into its clash against Barooga as favourite, with the Hawks hoping to break their drought and claim a win in 2024.