St Collegians is back.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Saints were a powerhouse in the Rawson Homes Premiership, winning three straight premierships from 2013-2015.
But with a number of players then getting married and starting families, the side disbanded and hasn’t been seen the last two seasons.
But when the A Grade action starts in round one of the new season on Saturday, St Collegians will be there.
“They’re back and they’re going to field a very strong side,” Dubbo Netball Association president Karen Weekes said.
“Some of the previous players have returned. Jacinda Spicer, Rochelle Rope, Megan Cox and Grace Pilon will be there.
“They’ve also now got Kate O'Shaughnessy and picked up Abbie Merritt as well so the premiers of 2017 aren’t going to have it all their own way this season.”
The winners last year were Fusion Heat, who went through undefeated, and they remain largely the same outside with a splash of new, younger players.
Izzie Attwater, Maddie Croft and Payton Harris will all play for the Heat, as will Emily Coggan.
There’s plenty of excitement around Coggan, who has been looked at by Metro League side Sutherland.
Despite that talent, Saints still pose a real threat to Heat’s title and the thought of elite sharpshooters Cox and Merritt together in attack is an imposing one.
A Grade is not the only thing which is booming in Dubbo netball this year, with more teams meaning there’s now five timeslots across a Saturday for matches at the Nita McGrath Courts.
There’s a huge increase in junior sides, in particular.
“We’ve got 48 senior teams and a massive amount in the eights and nines,” Weekes said of junior groups.
“We’ve got 16 sides across A Grade and A Reserve Grade and then eight in B Grade so we’ve got good numbers across the board in seniors and then in Division 1 there’s more younger teams so we’re looking forward to a good season.”
Eight sides are in A Grade with round one matches to be played at 12pm, 1.30pm and 3pm. St Collegians takes on Macquarie Hornets first while Fusions Heat meets St Diamonds.