Written by Amelia Barnes
Back-to-back VNL Championship premiers City West Falcons have picked up where they left off after a busy off-season.
With the loss of some big names (Zoe Davies to the UK’s Netball Super League, and Sienna Allen who returns home to South Australia) comes the biggest signing coup of the season in former Collingwood Magpie Shimona Jok (née Nelson).
With multiple Melbourne Mavericks training partners, former Suncorp Super Netball (SSN) players, Australian Netball Championship (ANC) winning players, and international representatives in the mix, City West Falcons will once again be the team to beat.
Falcons’ 23&Under side includes 10 athletes from the previous 19&U and Division 1 groups who will provide stability among a young playing group.
The club will host three home games in Altona this season: Round 6 (against Geelong Cougars), Round 12 (North East Blaze), and Round 21 (Western Warriors).
Championship Athletes
The Falcons’ already formidable shooting line up has been bolstered by the arrival of Jamaican Sunshine Girl, former Collingwood Magpie, and current Melbourne Mavericks training partner Shimona Jok (née Nelson).
“Shimona fits in extremely well to the City West Falcons culture and shows great courage in placing herself in the VNL environment having come from an SSN environment. She works extremely hard and adds exciting strength and enthusiasm to City West Falcons,” said head coach Marg Lind.
“Shimona is looking to gain a position back into SSN and hopes to develop her moving game and add some diversity of game style to her repertoire for a potential 2025 contract.”
Jok will team up in the circle with long-time Falcons player and pathway product Uneeq Palavi, who recently signed with the Melbourne Mavericks as a training partner. Palavi was a standout at the 2023 Netball World Cup representing Tonga.
Jane Cook likewise impressed in 2023, winning the VNL Hot Shot Award for shooting the most goals (852) throughout the season, and shooting at 100 per cent accuracy to help Collingwood Magpies win the ANC grand final.
Genna Ogier is a new face to the Falcons this year. The GA/GS originally hails from Shepparton and is returning to netball after playing college in the US (alongside her sister Ella who has signed with Western Warriors).
Ogier replaces Madelyn Gray who is expected to return to court after the birth of her first child. “Ogier can also flip to defence, making her a great utility player for the Falcons,” said Lind.
The Falcons’ midcourt is equally experienced, starting with former Collingwood Magpie Maggie Lind who resumes her attacking partnership with Jok.
“Shimona and Maggie have an uncanny connection and faith in each other. Surrounded by Montana Holmes and Jane Cook, and with the flair of Uneeq Palavi, this is a dangerous attacking end,” said Lind.
Midcourter Holmes is another former Collingwood Magpies training partner and the third Falcons player to sign with the Mavericks as a training partner in 2024. She’s destined for a great season after finishing the 2023 VNL as Grand Final MVP and claiming a spot in the Championship Team of the Year.
“Montana is a work horse with a big tank who can run all day, and is the perfect complement to an attack end stacked with size and flair,” said Lind. “Montana also adds good defensive ability having come from the WD position to now be consolidated as a C for City West Falcons.”
Samoan international Soli Ropati is another defensive midcourter and long-term Falcon back for 2024.
Versatile midcourter Chelsea Imanisani has been elevated from Division 1 to the Championship side.
In the defence end, Falcons will look to its most experienced players for leadership including Lucia Fauonuku who also represented Tonga at the 2023 Netball World Cup. “Lucia has great anticipation, is solid in wearing down the attacker, and is a terrific athlete,” said Lind.
Fauonuku will partner with Sophie Hanrahan who played a key role in both the 2023 VNL grand final, and the ANC grand final, where she recorded two crucial gains to seal the win. A dedicated player, Hanrahan travels over three hours from Albury to compete in the VNL each week.
Sussu Liai (WD/GD) comes across from Peninsula Waves to join Falcons after making her Victorian Fury debut in 2023.
“Sussu is already showing enormous promise. She fits in extremely well to the City West Falcons environment with her work ethic, athleticism, competitiveness, and sense of humour,” said Lind.
Former state representative and Collingwood Magpies training partner Melissa Oloamanu returns to the Falcons after an ACL injury.
“This year our defensive line up shows great athleticism and anticipation,” said Lind.
23&Under Athletes
The Falcons’ inaugural 23&Under side includes four players returning from the club’s 2023 Division 1 team, starting with star defenders Achel Yout and Maddison McKiernan.
“Maddison McKiernan has developed and grown in her leadership and has helped to build the team culture at City West Falcons. Growing up in Geelong, Maddison is a tough, hardworking defender/midcourter who invests deeply in the club and the people at the club,” said Lind.
“Achel Yout is coming of age with some experience behind her now having come through the CWF junior development programs and hailing from Werribee Netball Association. Achel is only 19 years old but shows great promise, and the ability to be a game changer.”
They’re joined by fellow Falcons returnees Nyibol Akec in the midcourt, and versatile Fionnuala McKeagney-Stubbs.
Several have moved up from the previous 19&U division including shooter Holly Adams-Alcock, defender Kahlan Tanoi, Emily Miles, midcourter Elisa Butterworth-Gonebale, and shooter Amalani Fauonuku who was recently named in the 17/U Victorian State team.
Defender Mikaela Minns is also back, providing her trademark pressure that earned a place in the 2023 Vixens Academy and 2023 VNL 19&Under Team of the Year.
“Mikaela is a physically strong, tall, and determined defender who can wear an attacker down through hard defensive effort,” said Lind.
Beyonce Palavi returns after playing in the 2023 Netball World Cup for Tonga alongside her sister Uneeq.
“Whilst both Beyonce and Uneeq have great flair, Beyonce plays a slightly different style to Uneeq, being a more fluid and moving goaler,” said Lind.
New to Falcons in 2024 is Jackie De Waele (Wilson Storage Southern Saints), plus shooters Isabelle Grapsas (formerly of Geelong Cougars), and Ella Kerlin.
“Our goaling combination is very fresh with some good moving combinations present. Untried, this will be an exciting attack end to watch develop,” said Lind.
Coaches
City West Falcons is home to the most experienced and decorated coach in Marg Lind.
She’ll be supported by Jacinta Todd and Alexia McConnell on the Championship coaching panel.
“Jacinta is organised, great at technical elements, and communicates clearly,” said Lind.
“Alexia is a defensive specialist who has excellent people skills, great work ethic, and brings with her strategy from coaching the men’s game.
“Both are family orientated and fit in beautifully at Falcons. As a trio, we complement each other well and all have a good sense of humour making it fun to be around.”
The 23&Under coaching panel features experienced men’s player Josh Smith, Maddy Bosanko, and Hayley Cran. All three are long term Falcons and Altona Netball Association pathway coaches who Lind describes as intelligent and committed.
“Hayley, Maddy and Josh are the future of our club coaching group and are highly valued at City West Falcons,” Lind said. “Their feedback and commitment to players is second to none.”
City West Falcons 2024 Squads
Championship
Chelsea Imanisani
Genna Ogier
Jane Cook
Lucia Fauonuku
Madelyn Gray
Maggie Lind
Melissa Oloamanu
Montana Holmes
Shimona Jok
Soli Ropati
Sophie Hanrahan
Sussu Liai
Uneeq Palavi
Coaching panel: Marg Lind, Jacinta Todd, and Alexia McConnell
23&Under
Achel Yout
Amalani Fauonuku
Beyonce Palavi
Elisa Butterworth-Gonebale
Ella Kerlin
Emily Miles
Fionnuala McKeagney-Stubbs
Holly Adams-Alcock
Isabelle Grapsas
Jackie De Waele
Kahlan Tanoi
Maddison McKiernan
Mikaela Minns
Nyibol Akec
Coaching panel: Josh Smith, Maddy Bosanko, and Hayley Cran
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View the 2024 VNL fixture
