Written by Amelia Barnes
Western Warriors showed their potential in the club’s first VNL season, recording six wins in the Championship division.
Working on consistency and full court defence is the goal for 2025, with former Melbourne Vixen shooter Kim Borger and Tayla Honey leading the way. New Melbourne Vixens training partner Ruby Shannon is one to watch at wing attack, plus dual basketball-netballer Abbey Ellis who will line up with the team following her rookie season in the WNBL.
The club’s 23&Under side is looking stronger and more connected with a VNL season under its belt, and the addition of some promising rookies from the state pathway.
Western Warriors will host home games at Cobblebank Stadium near Melton in Rounds 2 and 17.
Championship athletes
Seven athletes have joined Western Warriors’ Championship division team for the club’s second VNL season.
One of the biggest names is Tayla Honey — former Melbourne Vixen and London Pulse midcourter — who has come across after two VNL seasons with Casey Demons.
“Tayla is such an experienced, cool-headed player who is extremely talented and should combine well with any combination we put on the court,” said Kim Bailey, Western Warriors head and Championship coach.
The team’s other new midcourter is Sarah Croft, who has been elevated from the club’s 23&Under side.
“She’s a midcourter who can easily slip into any of the three positions,” said Bailey. “Sarah is lightning quick and can get to circle edge easily.”
Croft and Honey will team up with re-signed athlete Ruby Shannon, who has had remarkable 12 months making the Melbourne Vixens Super Netball Reserves team, Australian 21/U squad, and signing as a Melbourne Vixens training partner for 2025.
“She is just so unassuming, but she really is tough as nails,” said Bailey of Shannon. “Her intensity and work rate are exceptional, but she also has netball smarts and is really coachable… She takes on feedback and corrections and then implements the corrections into her game.”
Honey will likely start in centre, freeing up Shannon to play more wing attack this season.
Simona Di Filippo is also gearing up for a strong season after winning her second consecutive Sally McLean Medal (best and fairest) in the Ballarat Football Netball League.
“Sim just wants to get better every time she steps on the court and is one of the most determined people I know,” said Bailey. “She is a machine at training so I can’t wait to see what she can bring in 2025.”
Olivia Ellis will again cover wing defence with her ability to shut down opposition and take timely intercepts.
WA/WD Georgia Hellyer makes a return to the VNL court following ongoing rehab for a 2023 injury. “She is small but fast and has a great netball brain,” said Hellyer.
In the defence end, Western Warriors have re-signed Jasmine Fraser and Elly Randall.
To help cover the absence of Ella Ogier (who has moved interstate), the club has elevated predominant GD Eliza Gollant from their 23&Under side.
“Eliza is a circle defender who has worked hard at her craft over the last year and has become a close checking, agile defender,” said Bailey.
Shannon Freeman has also been recruited from Casey Demons. “She is a tough defender who is lightning quick in the air and on her feet,” said Bailey. “Shannon will bolster the defensive line and can fit easily into any defensive position.”
It will be a big year for the experienced Kim Borger (formerly of Melbourne Vixens in SSN, and Team Bath in UK Super League), who has taken a step back from coaching this division to focus on playing.
Joining her is Poppy Douglass, another signing from Casey Demons. “Poppy will bring an added dimension to the shooting circle with her netball smarts and her superior work rate,” said Bailey. “We are really looking forward to seeing the relationship grow between her and Kim Borger.”
Rebecca Hicks has signed for her first season in the VNL, providing the team with another holding shooter option. “She is also agile and full of netball smarts,” said Bailey. “Deadly accurate under the post and is really entertaining to watch.”
Hicks, Gollant, Randall, Croft, Hellyer, Di Filippo, and Honey are all coached by Bailey in the Sunbury Lions’ Ballarat Football Netball League team, which won the 2024 premiership. Hicks was named best on court in the grand final.
Warriors have also officially signed Olivia Ellis’ sister, Abbey Ellis, who played a couple of games for the team in 2024. Abbey is a dual basketball-netball athlete, who is currently having a stellar rookie season playing for the Townsville Fire in the WNBL. She previously played for North East Blaze in the VNL.
“On her return from Townsville following the WNBL finals, Abbey will join us as a goaler. She is supremely accurate, lightning quick and brings an x-factor to the team,” said Bailey.
23&Under athletes
Six returning athletes and eight new signings makeup Western Warriors’ 23&Under team for 2025.
The team finished 10th in their first VNL season but recorded some strong wins over teams higher on the ladder as they gelled.
“We had a disappointing start to the season where it showed that there was no cohesion and they hadn’t played together,” said Bailey.
“As the season progressed you could see the connections start to form and we had some good wins.”
“I am hoping for more consistency with most girls having a taste of VNL pressure now. We are still quite young but have some extraordinary talent, so we are looking for a higher ladder finish.”
The shooting circle is looking particularly strong, with Ella Closter re-signing after an impressive first VNL season, and making the top 25 of the 19/U squad.
“She has grown so much as a player in a year. Having access to the Elevate coaches, and having Cathy Fellows and Kate Upton tutor her, has added complexity to her game and given her more experience from just being a holding shooter.”
Closter will again link up with Leona Hristovska, plus two new goalers in Eva Ryan and Ebony Porter.
“Ebony has been elevated from our development team after a couple of outstanding games in the VNL last season. She’s an extremely accurate goaler who is comfortable out in front or under the ring,” Bailey said.
Warrnambool athlete Ryan is a rising star of Victorian netball. She has the rare ability to cover both GK and GS, and was a member of the 2024 17/U Australian squad. “She is an extremely tall and agile player who can easily swing for defence to attack,” said Bailey.
This team also has some exciting young defenders, including the re-signed Kiara Boyd who is in the 17/U state team.
“Kiara Boyd is an exceptional athlete who excels in everything she does,” said Bailey. “She is still so young, but we are moving her more into the midcourt where she can use her explosive running all over the court. She has amazing elevation and can read the ball beautifully.”
Boyd is also a talented Aussie Rules player, which coach Bailey said gives her “added toughness.”
The team’s other impressive re-signed defender is Shaid Sasalu, who is also a member of the Fiji Pearls.
Grace Hay is a new defensive recruit with VNL experience playing in North East Blaze’s former 19&Under side. “Grace is a tough circle defender who is exceptional in the air and has great elevation,” said Bailey.
Charlize Cooke has been officially signed to the team after filling in as a replacement player on multiple occasions throughout 2024.
“She excelled immediately,” says Bailey of Cooke. “A tough no nonsense defender, Charlize has great standing elevation whose rebounding and reading of the flight of the ball are some of her main strengths.”
In the midcourt, Warriors have re-signed Sadie Cheesman and Brydi Hutchinson who are both preparing for bigger roles after injury struggles last season.
Kahlan Tanoi (WD/C) has been recruited from City West Falcons to help fill the shoes of the team’s 2024 MVP Rosie Todd, who is heading overseas. She is the sister of 17/U state team member Haleina Tanoi, who will unfortunately not take the court this season due to an ACL injury.
“Kahlan is a really powerful midcourt defender who contests every ball and reads the play extremely well,” said Bailey.
“We will look at running both Kiara and Kahlan in the WD position — a position Rosie made her own.”
Dasha Taylor (WA/C) will make her VNL debut with Western Warriors following winning the 2024 Bendigo Football Netball League (BFNL) Rising Star award. “She is a midcourter who is lightning quick and a beautiful feeder into the circle,” said Bailey.
Grace Manserra is another quick midcourter with great footwork making the step up to VNL.
Coaches
Kim Bailey continues as Western Warriors head and Championship coach with a focus on building the culture of the establishing club.
“Culture is what attracts players, and we are creating an inclusive and supportive club environment” she said. “We want to be known as a team that is tough, committed, relentless to the ball, and wins, whilst having a lot of fun doing it.”
Courtney McLean moves up to assistant coach of Championship after spending 2024 as an apprentice.
“Courtney is very experienced and has a decorated country footy netball resume. She is extremely honest and pulls no punches in telling players where they need to improve and also gives great positive feedback,” said Bailey.
In the 23&Under division, Tracy Howard moves into the head coach role following coaching the development team in 2024.
“Tracy has coached at Talent Academy and is going into her third year as SSV 15&U head coach,” said Bailey “Tracy is ready to take the next step in her coaching career and is a great technical coach and builds good relationships with her players. She’s great at strategy.”
Kim Borger is the 23&Under side’s assistant coach this season. “Her netball knowledge is insane, and whilst she says she still has a lot to learn, she is an amazing coach that’s both tactical and encouraging,” said Bailey of Borger.
Western Warriors 2025 Squads
Championship
Abbey Ellis
Eliza Gollant
Elly Randall
Georgia Hellyer
Jasmine Fraser
Kim Borger
Olivia Ellis
Poppy Douglass
Rebecca Hicks
Ruby Shannon
Sarah Croft
Shannon Freeman
Simona Di Filippo
Tayla Honey
Head coach: Kim Bailey
Assistant coach: Courtney McLean
23&Under
Brydi Hutchinson
Charlize Cooke
Dasha Taylor
Ebony Porter
Ella Closter
Eva Ryan
Grace Hay
Grace Manserra
Haleina Tanoi
Kahlan Tanoi
Kiara Boyd
Leona Hristovska
Sadie Cheesman
Shaid Sasalu
Head coach: Tracy Howard
Assistant coach: Kim Borger
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