Rennie ready for finals

With two football teams and four netball teams in the 2022 finals, Rennie Football Netball Club is ready for finals’action.

Club president Matt Stephens said it was great to have the sides in the football and netball finals.

“Rennie reserves under coach Adam Nish have had a solid year in 2022 to make finals,” he said.

“Injuries and inconsistent numbers have been a problem throughout the season but Nish has been able to mould a competitive outfit which can do some damage over the next five weeks.

“They have been ably led by George McBurnie who has dominated in the middle all season, well supported by Ben James who is using his years of experience to bring his teammates into the play. Up forward the prime targets have been Ryan Trinder-James and Lach Elliott who provide differing targets for the midfield to feed.

“Across the midfield the Donovan brothers Alex and Fletcher, who have both had senior experience this season, will provide drive and poise, and down back the mature heads of Leon Wolfe and Hayden Long will form the glue of the defence. The Hoppers will provide a difficult opponent for whoever they come up against over finals season.”

Rennie Under 17s have also had injury and numbers concerns. But a fit and focussed team will take the park for finals according to the president.

“All players can play anywhere and this season Bassett, Kennedy, Hogan, Tanner, Slattery, Lonergan, deOleveira, Cope and McInness have all also had a taste of senior football which will hold them in good stead in the tougher finals matches,” Mr Stephens said.

“The Hoppers have many match winners but it will be their ability to team together which can take them deep into finals. Players like Herrod, Van Maanen, Brogan, Kelly, Vodusek, Clarke and Lovel will be vital cogs in a finals campaign. Coach Jarryd Fountain has his charges ready to fire.”

In reflecting on season 2022 so far, Mr Stephens said that it has been a tough year for first season coach Harry Haley.

However, the club’s support of him has been seen in his reappointment for 2023.

“We wish all our football and netball finals’ players all the best who look to go deep into finals. Football clubs are an integral part of any community and Rennie plays its part in providing that community function,” the president said.

“We also thank all our sponsors and particularly the many volunteers who week in week out, turn up and make our little club the quality place it is.”

Netball C Grade

The season started off strong for the C grade girls of 10 players. Like many teams and clubs this year illness and Covid played their roles. Coach Kayla Stevenson has been super proud of her team’s resilience and never give up attitude. Kayla states that she has learnt just as much from her team as she hopes they have from her.

This year’s team was made up of old and new faces which seemed to balance the team out nicely. Long-time player and club person Rachel Guppy returned to the court this year and for Kayla it was a no brainer she be this year’s captain. Rach has led her team with grace, positivity, strength and is well respected amongst her peers.

Young guns Steph Munro, Sophie James and Shanae Werthmuller have stepped up over the year and shown real promise and talent. Watch out for these girls in the finals they are likely to change a game!

Welcomed back to Rennie again this year was the ever-reliable Nada Nolen and Georgina Thomas. Their versatility, strong defensive pressure all over the court and all-round effort every week was commendable.

New to Rennie this year were Haylee Wilson and Emmi Brookes, one a defender and one an attacker but both equally as vital to C Grade’s game. Kayla states they are both so constant and put their head down and get the job done and have been a pleasure to coach.

Laura Nunn has started to hit her straps at the right end of the season and after breaking her leg last year she has come back stronger than ever and is a big threat to any opposition team. Laura’s guidance in the ring with younger players has been invaluable.

Ally Thrumble has been such an asset to the C Grade team. Not only does she read and direct the play all around the court, but this lady is a genuine positives person who helps lift her team-mates up and pushes everyone to play their best.

This team may have finished 8th but watch out everyone, they are focused, ready and won’t go down without a fight.

Under 17s

What a season the Rennie Under 17 netballers have had so far this year. After a long and tiring two years through Covid, illness and injury, the girls were back and ready to give it their all. For many players this year, it will be their last season together as juniors and as a team that has grown up learning the game, developing their skills and loving working with each other from the minute they started.

This season has shown such diversity in a talented group of girls. Coach Brooke McDougall could not be prouder of how each and every player has developed, persisted and how dedicated they have been to themselves and each other as a team.

This season is led by captain Ella Rhodes and vice-captain Sophie O’Dwyer. Strangely enough, these two are the starting goalers who by now, know exactly what the other person is going to do, and has the trust that even the fastest and wildest of passes is going to land in their capable hands to secure the goal. Ella works tirelessly in every quarter and is known for taking a knock or two in each game, yet she always stands back up and shows why she is the best of the best. Sophie is the player on the team who makes everyone laugh and always keeps everyone on their toes. She is an all-rounder who often shows that her height and agility can be used on both ends of the court.

In defence, is Abbey Coghill and Jemma Adkins, who are often partnered by Mia Doherty. These three girls have all come a long way in their netball development, and never shy away from competition and contest. Abbey has such versatility on the court, and her

players never see her coming. She is clean in her intercepts, poised and hands down gracious as she flies across the court. Jemma keeps Brooke on her toes through playing a physical game with her opponents. Jemma only ever has eyes for the ball, and she dominates the defensive goal circle through excellent eyes up and communication skills. Mia is an all-rounder who Brooke has been thrown back into the defensive circle to help with rotations. Mia has the ideal 3 feet and hands over, and her opposition struggle to get the ball past when she is in the ring. Mia has played many different positions this season, including a role in the mid court.

The mid-courters are all so diverse and unique and each offers a different skill. Through the leadership of Scarlett York and Grace Stephens, the bottom age players, Zoe McKenzie, Sophia Shaw and Georgia Phillips have so much to learn from them, yet also shine through with their own talent.

Scarlett this season has been thrown around the mid-court and even into the goal ring. She feeds the ball so perfectly into the shooters, and has patience around the ring that can’t be taught. Grace has returned to netball this season, after a knee injury last year, and you wouldn’t even know it. Grace is a quiet achiever who takes her role on the court seriously. She is always where you need her to be, and never drops her head. Zoe is new to the club this season, and Brooke admires her ability to listen, adapt and accept a challenge. Zoe also has an exceptional 3 feet, and when she applies her hands over pressure, her opponents can’t see past, no matter how hard they try. Sophia is the little pocket rocket, who can’t be caught. Sophia never stops running, and barely breaks a sweat, and let’s not forget to mention her passing into the ring is exceptional. Finally, Georgia, who is the most innocent and kind person on the court, yet will surprise you through her intercepts and rejections on the ball across the court.

Now it’s finals time, and these girls have a point to prove. With only one loss this season, it is their time to shine and show how working hard, having dedication and commitment to the team and to being the best player they can, will pay off.

If you get the chance to come and witness the strength of this team, the club look forward to seeing you and hopefully putting on a show!

Under 15s

Under 15’s coach Georgia Hope is very excited and of course nervous for what the finals may bring for this young team. They finished the home and away season on top of the ladder with no losses, but she is confident in all 11 players that no matter what combinations she puts on the court they will thrive and rise to the occasion.

Captain Heleena Shaw is a great leader and displays her support and skills as a defender. Heleena is one of the main defenders and shows great potential into developing into a very skilled young netballer.

Vice-captain Laynee Rhodes is another great support for this team with her leadership skills and lots of talk on the court. Laynee plays everywhere on the court and is a force to be reckoned with. She is another one who will be a very skilled netballer.

Round out the defenders with Lucy Bassett who, partnered with Heleena, forms an unstoppable duo in the ring. Lucy brings a lot of strength and knowledge to defence along with the occasional appearance down in shooting.

Midcourter Darla Lawless has developed her skills as a WD and has strength behind her passes. She has a great presence on the court and is very supportive to defenders.

Abbey Belot is another one of the strong defenders who has spent her time this year finding the aggression and drive to attack the ball and become another great midcourt in the WD position.

Steph Robinson has been out for a few weeks now with a broken thumb but she was another mid courter who could go from WD to WA to C all in one game and she has a great voice on the court for the girls in both attack and defence.

Iris Elliott is the team’s pocket rocket who has been the main C this year out running every opponent she has come up against; along with a strong defence no player can get past her.

Midcourt player Violet Elliott is the team’s main WA and what a strong WA she is. She brings her strong drives and voice to the court and is a great addition to the young team.

Shooters consisting of Sophie Coghill, Mia Elliott and Alani Peterson. Alani is a beautiful shooter who when she finds her confidence can produce goals from anywhere in the goal circle.

Sophie is a great support to both Mia and Alani and will amaze with her skills and accuracy in the goal ring. Mia reads the play down the court like you wouldn’t believe and knows exactly where to throw the ball and where she wants her teammate to receive the pass.

Wonderful Team Manager Amy Smith. She has been a great support for all, on and off the court, players and coach. The girls are very eager to start their finals journey and are determined to finish the season strong. They have put in the hard work all year at training and let’s hope their hard work pays off with a win at the end of the season.

Under 13s

What an amazing team of under 13s for the 2022 season - 10 strong willed girls, eager to take the court and show everyone the skills they’ve developed over the years, combined with girls who are new to the netball world and willing to do what it takes to learn the ins and outs of the game.

This team is filled with girls that are very versatile and can be moved from one end of the court to the other if needed. The shooting end consists of vice-captain Mabel Cope who is a dominant goalie who has exceptional rebounding ability and teamed with captain Demi Rhodes who has great netball skills and is very passionate about the game. Mia Brogan rounds out the shooting end with her movement in the ring and determination for the ball. These talented girls are also incredibly helpful in the mid court and willing to help their team whenever need be.

The mid-court consists of Kate Giblett who drives hard to the ball and uses great voice on the court, Samantha Knight who is improving each week with her defensive pressure, Jamima Bruce who is new to netball but has slipped into this side nicely and is a real asset to the team and Jasmine Lewis who consistently applies pressure to the ball and creates multiple turn overs for her team mates to pounce on. These girls have all developed their want for the ball beautifully throughout the season.

The defensive end finishes off the team nicely with Tess Bassett who has been outstanding with the pressure and leadership she has shown this season. Sienna Clarkson, also new to netball, has been determined in learning the game and really executing all she has learnt to perfection. The defence finishes with the ever reliable Charlotte Burrows who really has hit her straps at the right end of the season.