Season Preview with Yeendy - Woodend  Hesket

FOOTBALL
Woodend/Hesket has been one of the most talked about teams in the off-season.
Under coach Tom Carland, the club has shown some major signs of improvement, adding speed, strength and experience to its line-up.
Marcus Stapleton, Bryce Croswell and Mick Peart have arrived at the nest in the off-season while Charlie Mathieson and Dan Ratcliffe departed.
Carland is in his second year at as coach and is looking forward to the improvement of the younger players.
"Liam Bianco returns to the club from a knee injury and has had a big pre-season. Tyson Chapman will get a huge return on his time and effort over the pre-season, he is stronger and fitter than last year," Carland says.
He is optimistic about a better year for the club.
"With the recruits, coaching appointments and the players driving the club's intent, results should follow," Carland says.
He says that Diggers Rest, Macedon, Rupertswood and Wallan will be key teams to watch this season but did rate Riddell as the best team last year.
"I think they will have a point to prove and come out firing and be the team that the rest of the competition are trying to match up on come the back-end of the year," Carland says.

NETBALL
Wendy Roberts will coach A Grade again after a successful 2018. The young squad celebrated the 19 and Under team making the Grand Final, the first time a Woodend/Hesket team has made an RDFNL Grand Final.
The team has received a boost with the addition of Gracie Reid who crosses from Tocumwal. Reid dominated in the AGrade and 17 and Under teams..  
”She will be our opening WA due to her speed and placement of passes into the shooters, however Gracie can also score goals herself which makes her an additional shooter if required,” Roberts says,

After a shortened 2018 season, Maddy Staresina, key GA, became a first time mother in mid January 2019 and will be returning to the team this season.

Sarah Duff will be supporting the team with enthusiasm and commitment on the sideline as she continues her rehabilitation from an ACL injury in the 2018 season.
Woodend/ Hesket has plenty of exciting young talent.
”We have five girls that are going into their second year in the team, either just having aged out or also playing in the 19's team again this year,” Roberts says. 

Gracie Reid is our first rookie to watch out for due to her exceptional speed.
Mackenzie Brown played her first year in A Grade in 2018 and is expected to play more games in 2019 as a strong performer in the mid-court.

Roberts is enthusiastic about the upcoming season for the club having worked on numerous key areas in 2018 such as work ethic, attack, defense and opening vision under pressure. With eight returning players and the addition of Reid, the team will be better.

“This group will present as a strong versatile team, able to play the aerial game with height or a short, sharp crisp game.It’s an exciting time for our netball squad,” Roberts says.
Roberts says that each RDFNL club gives Woodend/Hesketan opportunity to learn about their strength and discover a weak link that allows the group to improve.

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