THE SWOOP - Round 2 v Beaufort

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NETBALL REPORT

The start of the season has finally arrived and the netballers are ready to go. Over the preseason we’ve welcomed some new faces to all of our teams and we wish these girls the best of luck for their first run in the black and white. We also welcome back some old faces, returning to the club after several years away. Many of our girls will be going up to a higher grade this year and we wish them luck with the challenge ahead. 6 of our U17 girls from 2025, will make permanent members of our senior squads, goodluck Adrienne, Bella, Chloe, Grace, Sienna and Stella.

Our coaches this year remain relatively the same as 2025 after a successful season, with all junior and 2 senior teams making finals. In her first year coaching Tatym Featherston will take on our youngest netballers with the 13Bs.

Jaqui Featherston will lead our 13A team, with Ally Ellis and Nik Featherston taking on the U15s and U17s respectively. Nik will step up to also take on our D grade team, with Christine Hill coaching C grade, and Nicole Bogers, supported by Jess Thomson continuing with our A and B grade sides.

Our A grade girls will be looking to continue on with their successful win in the practice match against Talbot. With the addition of Tlarnee Lake back into the side, the team feels strong and settled. The side will once again be extremely young with Georgia Hayne and Bella McLennan becoming permanent additions in the side. Alannah Trevisan will step into the role of Captain this year, supported by Lauren Grace as Vice Captain.

Thank you to all our Team Managers for taking on a role, your time is very much appreciated. And goodluck to our team of umpires, we can’t play this game without you.

Our opposition, Beaufort, will be strong across most grades this week. We have no doubt, we can be stronger.

Let’s commit to our club, stay united as a team and be proud to wear the black and white. Enjoy the game, get some wins on the board, support each other and our other teams and have fun while doing it. Let’s go Maggies!!

FOOTBALL REPORT

Finally we get to start our season at the Goldfields Recreation Reserve! Pre-season always seems to go on longer than anybody really wants and then the league threw us a first round bye to extend that wait a bit further. Even our successful run of practice matches feels like they were ages ago so everybody is keen to get into the games.

There has been a noticeable increase in numbers at training since Easter and the lads have been working with intensity and enthusiasm. Entering the new season our playing ranks have been bolstered by several recruits. We welcome Damon and

Tyler Lewis, Ben Wardley, Jack Harwood, Leo Taylor, Lachlan Becker, Adam Bird and Billy Burrows to our squad, as well as having our U/18 Best & Fairest from last season, Jesse Baker, graduate to our senior group. Everybody is looking forward to seeing our new players put on the Clunes guernsey and take the field.

Beaufort started their season with wins across the grades against Creswick last week so we cannot be complacent in our approach. Expecting to win because we were successful there last year will not be enough and we must do the work on the oval. Everybody is looking forward to getting started and showing our supporters what we have learnt from our pre-season training.

Selection for the Seniors was not easy this week with our increased playing squad depth shown by the number of players who were considered before the team was finalised. A great challenge for the coaching group to pick the team this week and the Reserves will benefit from the omission of a group of players that will definitely play senior football this year but missed out this week. Injuries, form and unavailability will change the teams every week as everybody understands.

Several recruits will be looking to make an impact immediately. Last year’s gun recruit Mitch Bishop will be joined in the defensive group by Ben Wardley. The Lewis brothers will play through the midfield and forward line with their excellent foot skills expected to make an impact. Jack Harwood could bob up anywhere with his versatility but will initially look to add to our attacking options.

We’ve made one change to our leadership group this year with Mitch Bishop not being available every week. Josh Thompson returns as our captain with support from Monte Reeves and Brandyn Davidson. Brandyn is our newest leadership group member and it’s apparent to anybody who has watched him recently that his work as a coach with the U/15 lads is aiding the development of his own football. Go well lads, lead strongly.

So, we are really keen to get started, excited by the opportunities ahead of us and looking forward to seeing an attacking style of football coupled with a defensive steel to produce an exciting Clunes style. Massive thanks to all involved in organising the netball and football squads and jumper presentations at the Bull MilLgate Oval on Thursday night. It’s always fantastic to gather the Maggie clan together and have

everybody see how many people are connected to our club. Community football/ netball clubs are so important to the towns and regions they are based in by providing a meeting place, support network and

friendship group amid a myriad of other social and financial benefits. Oh, and we get people up and moving by

playing sport too. Health benefits!

All the best to all our teams whether on the oval or the tarmac. Looking forward to seeing lots of youngsters

enjoying their day and positive results across the board. Hope to see plenty in our colours at Beaufort.

Go Maggies!