2025 VNL finish: 11th
Peninsula Waves’ Championship team is pushing for more wins in 2026 with the return of former Melbourne Vixen Mwai Kumwenda.
The 23&Under side is aiming for a spot in finals, having just missed the top four for the last two seasons. They’ve welcomed several new players, including experienced attacker Dee Dee Lambert.
Championship athletes
New: Mwai Kumwenda, Lavinia Fox, Casey Dunstan, Hannah Magasanik – training partner
Returning: Caitlin Cooke, Emmalia Blake, Tayla Furborough – training partner, Isabelle Rebecca, Cassandra Grigoriadis, Alana McGurgan, April Bethune, Holly Taubert, Ella Rhodes – training partner, Kassidy Withers, Samantha Gooden (training partner)
Out: Emily Boribon, Lauren Hucker, Lauren Spinks (Wilson Storage Southern Saints), Selene Chadrawy, Gracie Reid
2025 was a good year for Peninsula Waves who claimed three wins despite losing goal shooter Mwai Kumwenda before Round 1 when earning a late call up to West Coast Fever in Suncorp Super Netball (SSN). She’s back at Waves this season, 15 years since her first stint at Waves, where Kumwenda played three seasons before her successful ANZ Championship, SSN, and international career including the 2020 Melbourne Vixens premiership.
“Mwai will bring a huge amount of experience to our high-performance program as well as being a strong and accurate target under the post. She has another year of fitness and SSN under her belt, and we can't wait to have her and [son] Maximus around the club,” said Gen Blaze, Peninsula Waves manager and administrator. “There is something special about having an athlete who is a mother return to the court, and it brings a sense of joy to all the athletes to have little children around the group.”
Waves’ other new goaler is Lavinia Fox – a versatile goal attack with VNL experience as a Wilson Storage Southern Saints training partner last season, and previously at Melbourne University Lightning. Fox had a great 2025, winning the Horsham District Football Netball League Michele Mibus medal (Best and Fairest award).
Fox offers another strong and dynamic GA option to support Kassidy Withers (WA/GA), who has re-signed. Withers first joined the VNL in 2016 and continues to impress, taking out the
Mornington Peninsula Football Netball League Division 1 A Grade Best and Fairest Award in 2025, and the WA position in the league’s Team of the Year.
Former Adelaide Thunderbirds goaler Samantha Gooden (GA/GS) is also expected to return in 2026 after a knee injury limited her to three VNL matches in 2025. “She was vital on and off the court with her smarts and we loved having her as part of the team whether she was on court or off court,” said Blaze.
Waves’ dominant goal shooter Emmalia Blake is back for another VNL season after shooting 384 goals at 90% last year. She also slotted the most goals in the A Grade division of the Outer East Football Netball League in 2025.
April Bethune will head up Waves’ defence end having won the team’s Best and Fairest award two seasons in a row. Bethune was also runner up for the Gippsland League’s MVP award in 2025, and named in the Team of the Year at wing defence.
Shutdown-style defender Cassandra Grigoriadis (GD/WD) has also re-signed following another strong VNL season earning the club’s Players’ Player award.
Caitlin Cooke (GD/GK) is back for her second season at the club as the team’s dominant goal keeper. She has great aerial ability, winning her the 2025 Division 1 A Grade Best and Fairest award and Team of the Year honours in the Outer East Football Netball League.
Versatile defender Tayla Furborough has re-signed as a training partner after a wrist injury cut her debut VNL season short.
In the midcourt, Isabelle Rebecca showed her worth playing her first Championship VNL season in 2025. She will again cover all three midcourt positions.
Likewise, Alana McGurgan (WA/C) had a standout first season with Waves, earning a starting midcourt position and 2026 contract.
Casey Dunstan is new to the team from Melbourne University Lightning, joining her sister Ava who plays in Waves’ 23&Under side. “She is a tall defensive midcourter which is what we felt would complement our smaller and attacking mids,” said Blaze.
Athletic Holly Taubert battled a foot injury in 2025 but will return at full capacity this season.
Ella Rhodes is also back as a training partner, bringing valuable VNL experience to the side and versatile midcourt cover.
Hannah Magasanik joins as another training partner from Waves’ Reserves team. “She is a strong bodied and explosive midcourter who has previous VNL experience at City West Falcons and most recently has been pursuing a rowing career,” said Blaze.
23&Under athletes
2025 VNL finish: 7th
New: Lucinda Gatt, Aroha Cortes Wright, Lupe Fonua (Casey Demons), Maliana Tapusoa – training partner, Imogen Davison – training partner, Madeline Ellis, Dee Dee Lambert (North East Blaze), Ella Duggan (elevated from Peninsula Waves Reserves)
Returning: Abbey Whitaker, Ava Dunstan, Charlize Gabel Joseph, Charlotte Sengstock, Gabby Linton, Madison Mullen, Kelsie Wilson
Out: Abby Williams (Gippsland Stars), Ella Tweedale, Georgia Mills, Jordan McManamny, Mackenzie Oracz (North East Blaze), Olivia Spence (Wilson Storage Southern Saints), Talia Anderson (Peninsula Waves Reserves), Taylah Werner (Boroondara Express)
Peninsula Waves has welcomed several new players for 2026. This side showed what they can achieve last year with close contests against top four sides in multiple matches and defeating Hawks Netball.
Key areas for improvement include executing a strong start to the season and consistency. “The team has a lot of depth, versatility and experience now at VNL level so they will be pushing to make finals,” said Blaze.
The signing of Dee Dee Lambert from North East Blaze is a huge boost with her ability to cover goals and the midcourt. Lambert has Victorian State Team experience and is looking strong after recovering from a 2024 ACL injury. She shot at 80% last VNL season in seven matches for Blaze.
Lambert will add to Waves’ strong shooting circle headlined by Charlize Gabel Joseph who was the VNL 23&Under division MVP. Gabel Joseph also represented Cook Islands at the 2025 Netball World Youth Cup. “Look out for Charlize to continue running rings around defenders on the court in 2026,” said Blaze.
Ava Dunstan (GA/GS) has re-signed after shooting at 89% last season and making her Championship level debut.
Waves’ new goaler is 18-year-old Aroha Cortes Wright who joins from Melbourne University Lightning’s development program. “She has been on Waves’ radar for a few years as a tall, post up, goaling option,” said Blaze.
Ella Duggan is another new goaler elevated from Waves’ Reserves side who can also swing into wing attack.
At the other end of the court, Waves has welcomed some exciting new defenders, starting with Lupe Fonua (GD/GK/WD) from Casey Demons who represented Tonga at the 2025 Netball World Youth Cup. “She is a super talented athlete who brings X-factor and versatility to the team,” said Blaze.
Lucinda Gatt has joined from Wilson Storage Southern Saints to add experience to this young side. She can also cover all three defence positions.
Circle defender Abbey Whitaker has re-signed for her second Waves season following her VNL Championship debut in 2025. “Her dogged defensive style and height is sure to cause havoc and going into her second year at Peninsula Waves and being coached by Chris Vickery again I would be expecting a standout season and for her to have opportunities in the Championship team,” said Blaze.
Waves is excited to welcome Charlotte Sengstock back to the court after a late injury ruled her out for the entire 2025 season. “A standout defender and leader, it will be a vital part of the 2026 season to have Char back on the court,” said Blaze..
Madison Mullen will continue to intimidate at goal keeper with her footwork and body positioning alongside Kelsie Wilson, who can move into the centre if required.
Specialist wing defence Gabby Linton is set to guide Waves’ midcourt in 2026.
She’ll link up with newcomer Madeline Ellis who adds a speedy and fit presence through the midcourt. Ellis has previous VNL and State Squad experience, and balances netball commitments with Aussie Rules.
New training partners Maliana Tapusoa and Imogen Davison will provide additional midcourt cover if required while playing in Waves’ Reserves team.
Coaches
Sue Hawkins continues as Peninsula Waves’ head coach alongside their Championship team head coach Matt Cooke.
Their new assistant coach is Jackie Carroll, who has experience coaching VNL at Wilson Storage Southern Saints and with Cooke. “Jackie will bring a voice and support to head coach Matt and will be vital in providing one- on-one feedback to the athletes during match night,” said Blaze. “Jackie has a great rapport with numerous players and builds strong relationships with athletes and in turn they trust her guidance.”
Both 23&Under head coach Chris Vickery and assistant coach Fance Morrell have been re-signed.
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