Berwick NC – 2022 Season Preview

Despite moving down into Division One, Berwick Netball Club are really looking forward to season 2022 which provides an opportunity to face new opposition across the Outer East region.

Pre-season training has been excellent across all teams at the Wickers, with a high attendance rate and strong motivation levels providing a good starting base for Berwick to have a strong year.

Speaking ahead of season 2022, A Grade coach Chloe Phillips is excited for the possibilities of what her club is capable of and looks forward to being able to enjoy a full season again.

“It’s been the biggest turnout of pre-season training attendance since I have been involved at Berwick,” she said.

“We had a big club day of training where we had a crossover between juniors and seniors which was fantastic, we have some good family and team connections too which is encouraging.”

Despite losing talented A grade player Sophie Gambetta over the off-season due to work commitments, the Wickers managed to pick up two new defenders in Kyla Quinn and Danielle Hanley to bolster the A grade team ahead of the new year.

Just as they did last season, the club will field four senior sides and six junior teams in each of 13, 15 and 17 & Under, further demonstrating signs of strong participation numbers.

Ahead of the new season, the Wickers are ready to go for Round One and are excited about what they can achieve this year.

“Initially, it came as shock when we moved down to Division One but we have taken this onboard as a new opportunity for us and now we are ready to make a big impact across both our junior and senior teams,” Phillips explained.

“We’re in a good place now and are ready to face some new opposition as it provides a chance to meet some new faces, take on new challenges and see where we end up at the end of the year.”

Off-court, the Wickers aim to continue with the strong community vibe they are aiming towards, as they have created a strong environment that fosters positivity and a love of netball.

On-court, the coaching staff and players have been working hard to build strong connections, particularly since some new players have also joined, but the goal remains to be competitive and make finals at a minimum.

“We are a very competitive group and have already set ourselves a target of playing finals and contest for premierships where possible,” Phillips said.

“Initially though, we will take the year week by week and keep working towards our overarching goal.”

With just three weeks to go until the start of the season, Phillips recognised the hard work her players have put in already and hopes they can benefit from it come seasons end.

“We’re looking fit and strong, so a huge thank you also goes to our committee, coaches and parents for all their assistance in getting to this point so we can start the year on a great note.”