The Mount Gambier Netball Association (MGNA) will leap into action this Saturday for the first round of their 2023 season.
All eyes will be on the A Grade Anzac Day match between reigning premiers Intruders and runner up Hobitz at 3pm on court one at Olympic Park.
The annual Marg Dennert Anzac Day Medal will be presented by Mount Gambier RSL representative Kelly Copeland and vice president Peter Bruhn while Cameron Horsburgh will play the Last Post.
Previous winners of the award are Hobitz’s Louise Humphries in 2015 and 2016, Kym Stewart (Hobitz), Kirralie Spada (Saints), Brooke Lloyd (Saints) and Gabrielle Chandler (Intruders).
Mount Gambier Netball Association president Cindy Launer said the game will certainly be one to watch.
“We always make sure that our two grand finalists play up against each other,” she said.
“All six clubs are filling A Grade squads this year so that is really, really exciting for the association, we have not had that for a long, long time.
“Everyone is quite excited I think to see what the changes are and what Hobitz can bring, knowing last year they were very much the underdogs.
“Knowing that Intruders had a very, very strong side so it is just going to be that real interesting line up of seeing who Intruders have been able to recruit over the off season and whether they have some of their experienced A2 players coming up and playing in A grade.
“We sort of honour every single club that is playing on the day in that time slot so we have pushed it back to 3pm so every club is involved in that, we get them all to sort of participate, it is not just focusing on just the A Grade.”
Hobitz has a similar team to last year except for some returning players such as Sam Crute and Phoebe Beare while intruders will be hitting the court with some new players to their side mixed with last year’s premiership players.
Intruders are expected to feel the loss of Carly Trevilyan and Kahli Rolton and Christie McCourt in defence while injury has sidelined mid-court driving force Gabby Chandler and A Grade coach Tash Moreland.
