mmg.com.au

It’s a new season, but there will be some familiar faces missing as Seymour netball sides go from being the hunters to the hunted.

However, there are plenty of netballers up to the challenge if pre-season training is anything to go by.

The Lions come off a successful 2011 in which three of the four sides made the finals, Kathryn Hard won the Wellman Family Medal for the best player in Goulburn Valley Netball League, and Laura Mundy did likewise in B-grade.

Sandra O’Sullivan almost made it a memorable treble, finishing runner-up in B-reserve.

But for the first time in more than 20 years there won’t be a ‘‘Roscoe sister’’ lining up in Seymour colours.

O’Sullivan and Veronica Hager have retired, while Ros Rutherford will take a year off.

That’s more than 1100 games of experience missing, and there will be other notable absentees.

Mundy is one of them and will be joined by Gen Pearce, Sarah Brown, Sarah D’Orria and Brooke Lashford.

Some of the under-17s also haven’t returned.

But there have been plenty step up to take their places, with many returning to the club after absences of their own, through injury or otherwise.

They include Tegan Hansen, Rebecca Bath, Deanne Wilson, Jacqui Boland and Jacinta Jamison, while a newcomer is Bridie McNeill, who played last season for Tallygaroopna in KDNL.

Last year’s under-17 stars Lyndel O’Sullivan, Alexandra Bourne and Emily Martin have been elevated to the senior ranks, while Julie Shier and Alyce Ruthenberg have joined the B-reserve squad.

Combined with a new squad system which sees Abby Misiti take charge of a combined A/B-grade squad, it all promises to be an interesting year.

Misiti is excited about what lies ahead.

‘‘It’s a lot of experience to lose all at once and we are in a bit of a rebuilding phase,’’ she said.

‘‘But it’s exciting with the young girls in. We’re looking at a really young A/B squad, and getting some of the girls back to the club is great.’’

That is partly the result of a summer of hard work contacting prospective players to see if they wanted to come back.

Jamison, for example, had played with Seymour in under-17s before moving on to university and turning out for sides in Ballarat and Deniliquin.

Melbourne-based Toni Lind will join the leadership group, while another Melburnian, defender Ash Hardy, will be available as a back-up if required.

Misiti is even more excited about the under-17 squad and has paired youngsters with senior players as part of their mentoring.

‘‘The young girls really like it and (the under-17s) are a fantastic group of girls,’’ she said.

‘‘They are quite young but very enthusiastic and willing to play. We’ve probably got some future A-grade stars there and hopefully we can give them a taste (of senior netball) during the season.’’

While Misiti will coach most of the sides, her helpers have been finalised.

Dave Gregson will coach B-reserve while Josie Gunn, Misiti’s mother, will manage the B-grade side on game day.

‘‘It will be great to have a male in the netball side of it,’’ Misiti said of Gregson’s appointment.

‘‘He’s someone with fresh ideas and a fresh approach.’’

With about eight weeks to go until the season opener against Euroa, the sides are training twice a week. There are likely to be two practice games before the season starts — against Riddells Creek on March 24 and Bacchus Marsh-based Darley a week later.

The game against Darley will also see the Lions’ senior footballers travel down to play a practice game.

■While player stocks are healthy, the club is on the lookout for anyone who can help as a netball umpire. For further information, phone Misiti on 0421907182.