AFTER being consistently strong in recent season the Horsham Demons will need to adjust in 2018 in order to continue being a force in the Wimmera Netball Association.
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The side has put together another strong preseason under the guidance of coach Pauline Butler but will have to overcome some injury setbacks early in the season.
“The squad is really going to look completely different to what it did last season,” she said.
“We’ve picked up a few new recruits but we’ve also had a number of young ladies leave the club to go onto bigger and better things down in Geelong, Echuca and all over the place.”
Ellie Heard, Casey Jess and Victoria Taylor are new recruits that will add to a side that is looking to replace five of its regular A Grade players from 2017.
“Victoria has come across to us from the Saints and I’m really looking forward to seeing her growth and development over the next six months,” Butler said.
“We’ve also got a few juniors that will be stepping up.”
The new lineup will mean the side will likely need to adjust from a style that has delivered it so many wins in recent season.
“When you’ve had a team together for such a long period of time and then it changes you are forced to make some adjustments,” Butler said.
“Really it will probably be a similar game style with a few tweaks here and there through the early rounds.”
Q and A with Pauline Butler
Where do you see your improvement coming from during the season?
Probably at our attacking end initially, we’ll have a new combination there this year. We’ve had a similar combination for the past couple of years but this year it will be switched up a little bit. Our defensive combinations will also be a bit different as well. I’m looking forward to development right across the court.
Have you been keeping much of an eye on what has been happening at other clubs?
Not really, that’s what the first round of games is for. Once you’ve played every other team once you then start to get a feel for what side’s have had come in and who they have lost. Across the board we’ve lost some and gained some – it should be shaping up to be a pretty good season.
Who do you think will be the teams to beat in 2018?
I think everyone is going to be in the mix this season. I think for the first time in a long time we’re really going to see an even competition.