Written by Amelia Barnes
Geelong Cougars are hoping to build on their recent success – including a 2023 Division 1 premiership – in the new-look Victorian Netball League.
Both the Championship and 23&Under teams have signed established partnerships at either end of the court, with plenty of up-and-coming talent through the midcourt to fill the shoes of the outgoing Zara Walters (Melbourne Vixens).
Long-time coaches Gerard Murphy and Melanie Savage have the tools to secure a win, having both tasted premiership success across their VNL careers.
Championship Athletes
There have been some changes to the Cougars’ Championship side to replace Zara Walters, who has earned her first Suncorp Super Netball contract with the Melbourne Vixens, and Emily Kingston (née Post) who is taking a year off from VNL.
Head and Championship coach Gerard Murphy is confident the squad has enough talent for the team to make their eighth consecutive finals appearance.
Midcourters Charlotte Morey and Kiahna Fallon are both up to the challenge, having played a key role in the Cougars’ Division 1 premiership win last year and debuting for Championship throughout the season. The pair have developed a great connection over multiple years playing A Grade for South Barwon in the Geelong Football Netball League (GFNL).
They’ll be supported in the midcourt by Kaitlyn Sheringham who has come out of VNL retirement. A Cougars veteran, Sheringham has played over 200 games for the club including their first VNL Championship grand final win in 2019.
Former Victorian Fury athlete Ally O'Connor will help lift the standard and performance of the team. The defensive midcourter had a great 2023 including being named in the VNL Championship Team of the Year and representing the Northern Territory at the Australian Netball Championships (ANC).
“Ally is now becoming an experienced Championship player, and I look forward to watching her continue to lead this year. Ally will play across C and WD, where she has mostly focused in the past on WD,” said Murphy.
The midcourters will be feeding an unchanged shooting lineup including Zanna Woods and Emma Buwalda. Both athletes shone in 2023, with Woods playing in the winning Collingwood Magpies side at ANC, and Buwalda winning the A Grade best and fairest medal in the GFNL.
Daisy O'Kane will again provide strength and accuracy under the post. “There's a lot of variety between Daisy, Emma, and Zanna. Emma and Zanna can both play shooter or attack, which means we have a lot of options to play with a moving circle, or have a tall goal shooter with different goal attack options at the front,” said Murphy.
Former Victorian Fury representative Tori Honner has stepped back from VNL in 2024, but the established defensive partnership of Brooke Allan and Indya Ford remains. In addition to playing for Cougars, Allan and Ford have won back-to-back premierships for Colac in the GFNL, and both were part of the winning Collingwood Magpies side at ANC.
Allan’s 2023 performances at VNL and ANC led to her selection as a training partner for the newly established Melbourne Mavericks SSN team. “She continues to improve all the time and keeps working on becoming a better athlete,” said Murphy.
The Cougars’ defensive newcomers include Charli Nicol who joins from City West Falcons. Nicol made the 2023 VNL Division 1 Team of the Year and was in the 19/U national pathway squad for 2023-24.
Ashlee Smith steps up to the Cougars’ Championship side for the first time after also being named in the 2023 VNL Division 1 Team of the Year.
“Ash is extremely flexible, and she is a very versatile player who can cover almost any position on court. She will likely play across defence and midcourt,” said Murphy. “She is fast, athletic, and very fit. She was critical in our Division 1 2023 victory and is deceptive for her height in being able to take on taller shooters.”
23&Under Athletes
Geelong Cougars have re-signed six players from their previous Division 1 and 19&Under sides to their first 23&Under team.
From Division 1 comes GS/GA Elisa Hall, alongside the established defensive partnership of Charli Hoey and Olivia Taylor.
Hoey and Taylor were both standouts in 2023, helping their side to the Division 1 premiership while achieving individual accolades. Hoey was selected in the 19/U Victorian State team, and Taylor was named in the VNL 2023 Division 1 Team of the Year.
“Liv has worked extremely hard on her fitness which has enabled her to make better decisions and also work at much higher intensity for longer durations. This has resulted in her building pressure and earning intercepts,” said Murphy of Taylor.
Among players stepping up from the 19&Under division are defenders Zoey Shaw, Maddie Mickovski, Georgia Howell, and Mia Aitken. Aitken has experience playing with Hoey at a state and junior level and she was recently selected in the 17/U Victorian State team.
“Charli and Mia are both very dynamic, agile, athletic, and highly skilled defenders. They have quick feet and are able to work around a tall or a small shooter, and both players can cover wing defence, so they offer a lot of flexibility,” said Murphy.
They’ll work alongside fellow defender Keeley Smith who has been recruited from North Ballarat Football Netball Club – a team that’s won four consecutive premierships in the Ballarat Football Netball League.
At the other end of the court, shooter Tully Bethune has been elevated from Cougars’ 19&Under side after earning selection in the Australian 17/U pathway squad.
She’ll be joined in the shooting circle by GA Kaitlin Gladman, who in 2023 became the first person to win back-to-back A Grade best and fairest awards in Bellarine Football Netball League history. Murphy is looking forward to seeing what Gladman can do with her first VNL contract.
Establishing new connections in the midcourt has been a key focus for Cougars during pre-season. Experienced VNL athlete Mimi Lockwood will lead the way alongside rookies Ava Hellyer and Monique Parker.
Coaches
Gerard Murphy returns as head and Championship coach for the 11th season. Murphy has led the Cougars’ Championship team to finals for the past seven years in a row, including a 2019 premiership.
“My style has become a lot more relaxed over the years while still remaining motivated and pushing for higher performance and players to be accountable,” said Murphy.
In addition to Cougars, Murphy has been the head coach of the Victorian Men’s and Mixed Netball Association (VMMNA) since late 2022.
Following her success in 19&Under and Division 1, Melanie Savage will be the club’s inaugural 23&Under coach. Savage has long been a part of the Cougars set up and has held multiple state coaching titles.
Geelong Cougars 2024 Squads
Championship
Ally O'Connor
Ashlee Smith
Brooke Allan
Charli Nicol
Charlotte Morey
Daisy O'Kane
Emily Kingston (subject to fitness/availability)
Emma Buwalda
Indya Ford
Kaitlyn Sheringham
Kiahna Fallon
Victoria Honner (subject to fitness/availability)
Zanna Woods
Head coach: Gerard Murphy
23&Under
Ava Hellyer
Charli Hoey
Elisa Hall
Georgia Howell
Kaitlin Gladman
Keeley Smith
Madison Foot
Maddie Mickovski
Manaia Vanderlee
Mia Aitken
Mimi Lockwood
Monique Parker
Olivia Taylor
Tully Bethune
Zoey Shaw
Head coach: Melanie Savage
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View the 2024 VNL fixture
