The year off for the North East Blaze has only sparked greater motivation for the 2021 season, with the Division One side still leveraging their reigning premiers title from 2019, and the Championship side still feeling the heartbreak of their semi-final knockout.
Known to have one of the strongest club cultures in the competition, Blaze left no stone unturned in the extended off-season, working hard to maintain 29 of their existing playing group. Through group Zoom workouts and interactive squad challenges over the break, the team cohesion has only enhanced far greater than before, now stemming across the entire club.
There is no shortage of young talent within the Blaze camp, with almost half of their 2021 Open squad list made up of players who have progressed through their system over the years. While they proudly continue to devote their time to the development of their youth, they have also welcomed dynamic sisters, Georgia and Alex Moody into their Open squad who have boldly made the move from the Wilson Storage Southern Saints and Boroondara Express, respectively.
Among six debutants to grace the court for Blaze is up and coming superstar, Nyah Allen. After a successful stint in the Suncorp Super Netball (SSN) hub in Queensland last year, the Collingwood Magpies training partner has added some sparkle to the already dominant Blaze goaling circle. Allen was recently named in the 19/U Victorian state squad, further adding to her already decorated netball resume.
Long standing Blaze athlete, Kaitlyn Black was also rewarded for her determination and commitment across her netball years, as she too travelled to the SSN hub to join the Collingwood Magpies extended squad. With her profound experience within the Netball Victoria pathway, Black has been enlisted to guide the next generation of Blaze netballers – signing on as an Assistant Coach to the Division One side.
Tayissa Coppinger will be looking to kick-start the defensive alignment early in the season for the Championship team, while the end of the season will see her celebrating an incredible milestone and one to be extremely proud of, reaching 200 games for Blaze. Former Victorian Fury MVP and current Blaze Division One Assistant Coach, Ella Bayliss, will also achieve 100 games in the black, orange and pink dress this season. A well-deserved recognition for Bayliss, who has played VNL since its inaugural year.
It’s clear the coaching panel is leading from the front this season, with 19/U Coach, Sarah Hogan, hitting her 100-game milestone, while Head Coach Kate Upton, and Championship and Division One Coach Kelli Zealley will be appointed Blaze Life Members. The dynamic duo manage to juggle other coaching commitments outside the VNL, with Upton the Collingwood Magpies Assistant Coach, and Zealley Banyule’s Head Coach.
The 19/U side will be boosted by former 15/U SSV captain, Kiralee Collings and teammate Lucy Bult as they switch their focus to a top four finish after falling to seventh position in 2019. Assistant Coach, Steph Carbone, will support the team’s improvement, utilising her experience from her DC Force coaching years and skills developed as a Melbourne Kestrels training partner.
Current Bendigo local and 19/U state squad member, Ruby Turner will at last get a run in the open divisions this year, after impressing coaches at both the elite and local level over the last 18 months. Alongside Ruby will be the talented 2019 Division One Grand Final Player of the Match, Meg Williams, who has worked her way up from the 19/U program.
Round 1 of the VNL will see North East Blaze tackle Boroondara Express at the State Netball Centre on Wednesday 21 April. The Championship side will be hoping to kick start the season with a confident win, while Division One will look to retain their winning streak and the 19/U side will be working hard to get a win on the board.
More info on the VNL available here.
