In the netball world pre-COVID-19, City West Falcons celebrated another successful season in 2019, taking home the 19&U Premiership. Fast forward 18 months and their goals remain the same – build on their previous success and continue to showcase their talent both on and off the court.
Falcons have been fortunate to retain many of their 2019 Championship team. Montana Holmes joined the fold in 2020 and will now get her opportunity to showcase her skills with the team in season 2021. Their goaling stalwart Maddie Gray has also made the step up into the team and will be a valuable addition to the goaling circle alongside Jane Cook and Tahnysha Salanoa. Emma Walters has also been rewarded for her efforts in 2019’s 19&U Premiership side, elevating to the open squad, bringing her experience from the 19&U state team.
The Championship team continues to be a stepping stone for emerging athletes making their way through the Netball Victoria pathway. Former Falcon, Molly Jovic is now an integral player in the Collingwood Magpies Super Netball team and defender Jacqui Newton has also gained selection into the side for the 2021 season. Loyal Falcon, Maggie Lind has impressed the Collingwood Magpies camp, and has been selected as one of their training partners.
Their Division One team has undergone a revamp since their 2019 season. Joining long-time Falcons players Toni Lind and Bess Schnioffsky are several of their 19&U products – Nyibol Akec, Caitlin Hill, Lucia Fauonuku and Sarah Croft. They welcome back Georgia Berry and Majar Hikuroa-Betham, who will be joined by newcomers Elyse Boyer from Geelong Cougars and Lily Davis from Casey Demons. The Division One team will be determined to crack into the top four after finishing their 2019 season in fifth place and will get their first shot at redemption when they face rivals, the Geelong Cougars in round one.
Falcons pride themselves on the development of their young athletes, focusing their attention on the growth of their players on and off the court. A core group of talented players have returned for the year, but all eyes will be on new debutants Elsie Boyer, Sophie Garner, Bella Marles, Mikalea Minns and Khalan Tanoi - some of whom have come through the Falcons scholarship program.
The coaching panel of the Falcons boasts some of the most experienced leaders and officials in Victorian netball, who come with a wealth of practical knowledge. The club is led by Head Coach Marg Lind, with Jacinta Todd now assisting on the Championship bench. Andrew McInerney and Sonia Harris are taking the reins of assisting Division One, while Josh Smith will again get the opportunity to instil his expertise as Assistant Coach of the 19&U side.
They have two passionate scholarship coaches, Hayley Cran and Maddy Bosanko who have both progressed through the Altona Netball Association pathway. The partnership between the Falcons and Altona Netball Association continues to thrive, being the home training courts for the club and where they work hard to generate greater ties to the community’s netball programs. They will play two home games at Altona in 2021 and will also provide coaching opportunities in the region, with hopes to develop both the players and the coaches in the association.
For the first time in what seems a lifetime, this season will see the absence of Nicole Richardson on the Falcons bench. Having played an instrumental role for a number of years around the club, Nicole has been rewarded for her coaching prowess, being appointed as the Head Coach of the Collingwood Magpies in the SSN competition. An incredible achievement for someone who has given so much to Victorian netball, helping to shape and develop the lives of many success netballers.
The Falcons will return to the State Netball Centre on Wednesday 21 April to tackle the Geelong Cougars for round one of the VNL season.
