EAST Gambier will host 2022 Western Border netball runners-up Millicent in Saturday’s opening round.
The Saints enter the season without multi-premiership players Hannah and Paige Nitschke, who have moved to Adelaide for study, but there remains plenty of familiar faces and experience.
East on the other hand will sport a new-look line-up, with Bo Creek and Tarsh McCallum at the helm.
With no Amryn Bosko and Tyne Bosko, there were some gaps to fill and there are some new faces to the competition which will take on that task.
Reigning WBNA A Grade best and fairest Emily Hunter is also a huge loss with the star mid courter heading to Robe to play alongside her sister.
The shooting circle will be all about movement and long-range accuracy with the likes of Renee Henke, Casey Horrigan and new recruit Maddison Taylor ready to use their speed and good timing on the move to unsettle defenders.
At the other end of the court, there is a plethora of defensive options.
2022 circle combination Morgan Amy and Creek will continue to make life tough for goalers, while Sharna McKinnon is another athletic defender who can fill any of the back three defensive roles.
Another new recruit is Eliza Cole from Adelaide and she does her best work at the defensive end of the court.
McCallum will lead the mid court with her speed and smarts and her role will be critical as the new-look Bulldogs’ attack line looks to develop their chemistry, while utility Chloe Perryman can take on any role.
Her defensive skills, her hard running and her pinpoint passing will see her loom as a key pillar of the 2023 line-up whether she takes a mid court or defensive role.
Youngster Indi Dwyer will also get her chance to impress.
For Millicent tried and true shooting combination of Demi Verbena and Tabatha Sanderson will again test defensive combinations.
Sanderson is strong under the post and Verbena’s creativity out front and speed on the drive always causes havoc, as does her long-range accuracy.
The mid court has the experience of Lisa Duldig, the talent of Lillie Paul and speed of Daisy Tunkin.
That trio can also take on any of the centre-court roles, giving coaches Donna Denton and Michelle Skeer valuable versatility.
Defensively, the Saints have an embarrassment of riches with Portia McRae, Lauren VanEeden, the returning Kimmi Tincknell and new recruit Nikeisha Facey.
They are all tight-checking defenders who are especially strong in the air and their work over the shot and rebounding is as good as any defenders in the competition.
The Saints are the more settled and experienced team and will take the points over a rebuilding Bulldogs.
