Football
9 April, 2024
Natimuk 2024 Season Preview
A look at Natimuk's 2024 season in both football and netball and a message from President Shane Glascott.
In 2024, a young Natimuk side will be hoping to improve, led by Jarred Combe again in his third season with the club.
The club finished 2023 well with some great wins and a couple of losses and will look to bring that momentum into the 2024 season.
They have lost Todd Stevenson from last year's team who will be playing for Donald but they have a lot of youngsters that are coming through.
Assistant coach Jono Lovel said they will bring the same style into 2024.
"We will look to run and carry the football and use our youth and strength and to utilise their good skills," Lovel said.
"We are aiming to make finals and be around that mark. We have a young team which is good and we will continue to bring through the juniors."
Natimuk's under-17s made the grand final last year and a couple of those players will be taking the step up into senior football.
"We have a few young kids out of the 17s that are moving up. They are good footballers and ones we will look to keep around the club long-term," Lovel said.
"Kaiden Sudholz has been looking good and will play midfield and back whilst Dylan Newell is also impressing.
"Dylan as a wing/forward is turning 18 this year and he is a very handy footballer. We are looking forward to seeing how he goes this season."
Natimuk open their season with an away game against Kaniva Leeor.
DEVELOPMENT THE KEY FOR NETBALLERS
Danielle Hanson will lead the A Grade netball in 2024 in what she has described as 'The youngest side in many years.'
"We struggled last year and on top of that lost a few of our players from last year so it's all about junior development," Hanson said.
The club has brought in some new recruits in Keeta Scown, Alana Bascombe, Mayci Porter and Simone Skratek whilst they have elevated Jerae Trigg and Tahlia Dufty from B Grade.
Of the returning A Grade players are Danielle Hanson, Emily Hately and Olivia Sudholz.
Scown is a defender from the Southern Mallee Giants whilst Skratek is a goalie with Mayci Porter and Alana Bascombe in the midcourt.
Whilst finals are everyone's goal, Hanson said with the young team, she just wants to see development.
"I just want the girls to have fun and enjoy themselves, learn from it and take aways as much as they can from games," Hanson said.
"It will be a bonus if we win, but this is our youngest A Grade side for many years and I just want these girls to enjoy coming to training and playing and have some fun."
When asked who is impressing on court Hanson pointed out Mayci Porter.
"Mayci is a quiet achiever and a quiet person. After a few training sessions we have seen the improvement and she will be great on the wing for us and at some points will play in the centre," Hanson concluded.
FROM THE PRESIDENT
Whilst Natimuk has no big things planned off the field, they are in a great position with their junior numbers, which will help the club going forward.
President Shane Glascott said the club is looking good for the future.
"We are looking great with numbers and we are able to push the juniors through which has been the plan the last couple of years," Glascott said.
"We are hoping they can play a few more senior games this year. In the football we will be able to field under-17s and under-14s even though the numbers are a bit low with the 14s."
In the netball we have a lot of younger players and can fill teams so for us as a club it's all about developing these younger players and hopefully developing a premiership side."