Netball throughout northern Victoria is continuing to strengthen and a number of signings in recent days only reinforce this.
Tatura kicks off the spate of activity in the past week, finalising its netball coaching staff for season 2025 and, at the top of the pile, reinstalling Elsie Boyer as one of its A-grade co-coaches.
The Bulldogs enjoyed a successful 2024 season in the premier division, riding a five-game winning streak into finals after claiming fourth spot before ultimately crashing out in an elimination final defeat to Shepparton.
In her words, it was a no-brainer to go around again.
“It was a pretty easy decision,” Boyer said.
“I love the club and I love the people around the club.
“The wins came this year, but we just want to keep improving and hopefully taking a few steps further next year.
“There were lots of empty hearts (after the elimination final); I felt like we expected ourselves to go a bit further, so it was a tough pill to swallow.
“It just adds fuel to the fire for us to work a bit harder and try and make it happen next year.”
Boyer is back with hopes of overseeing that progress, though she will now be partnered at the helm by Kobi Worner, who replaces the outgoing Stephanie Smith-Gorrie.
Worner is expected to mainly carry out her duties from the sidelines, which should allow Boyer and the Bulldogs on court the best of both worlds.
“We had ‘Kobes’ coach our B-grade and she started to sit on our A-grade bench towards the end of the season,” Boyer said.
“She contributed some valuable insight and she’s got a very calm personality, in contrast to my energetic self.
“She’ll provide extra eyes off the court that will allow me to focus on just playing, which will help.”
It’s going to be busy around the traps for one of the league’s younger coaches, though, after also joining the long line of GVL talents making the commitment to Bendigo Strikers in the Victorian Netball League.
She brings her talents back closer to home after turning out for Boroondara Express, featuring alongside the likes of Seymour’s Ally Black.
Now, Boyer heads to join fellow recent signees Asha Gray of Mooroopna and Mackenzie O’Dwyer from Shepparton in an increasingly Goulburn Valley-heavy 23-and-under side.
“Asha and I played junior interleague together, so it’ll be exciting to be in the same team as her again,” Boyer said.
“My main motivator was that travel is really enticing, as well as knowing the Strikers are really supportive of that community-level netball, making sure they give back to our clubs.
“It’s cool to be able to suit up in the same colours as lots of girls that we play against on the weekend, and that there are so many GVL players over there.”
Sticking with the league’s western district, Rochester has brought home a former player after notching consecutive premierships with Wentworth’s B-grade side in the Sunraysia league.
Abby Rowe, who had become something of a traveller with her medical studies, rejoins the Tigers having also previously spent time closer to town with the Bears in 2022.
Finally in the Kyabram District League, one of the most decorated A-graders the competition has witnessed will again step up to the helm at Nagambie next year.
The Lakers have returned Sharni Lloyd to the top job, boasting an astonishing resume that includes 13 club best-and-fairest awards as well as claiming the Rita Warren Medal as the competition’s MVP on four occasions — including currently reigning after taking it out in 2024.