The squad is a who’s who of netballers in the GVL.
From Wellman Family Medal winners, Jessie Barnes and Steph Vick, to emerging stars Elsie Boyer, Molly Kennedy and Dayna Williams, there is a plethora of exciting talent in the Open netball outfit.
And with experienced tactician Di Hanslow at the helm, things are sure to be entertaining come Saturday.
It has been a while between drinks for the traditional Interleague rivals, with the last match between the pair coming in 2017.
Hanslow, who coaches Mooroopna at GVL A-grade level, said the contest will be a real battle.
“We’ve got some experience there with young kids, we’ve got really confident young players,” she said.
“So I think they’ll really flourish with the opportunity and that may be where we’re at in the region at the moment, this real new group of young up and comers coming through so it will be good.”
Hanslow explained the process behind selecting the squad, with clubs first nominating players, before Hanslow reached out to some, while COVID-19 has also impacted the side.
“It’s unfortunate that we haven’t played all the teams (yet) because I’m quite sure if we had played all the teams there’s probably other girls that might have been pulled in but you can only go with what you sort of know,” Hanslow said.
“We’re still very pleased with the squad we’ve got, it means that it’s given an opportunity for some really young girls to come in.”
These young stars include Tatura’s Boyer and Shepparton United’s Sophie Garner and Kennedy, with the trio joined by experienced heads in Belinda Lees, Vick and Barnes.
Barnes will be joined by Jess Lallo in the attacking ring, while Sarah Szczykulski, Ash Lancaster, Nakita Singe and Dayna Williams will help out in defence.
Vick will suit up in the mid-court, as will Kennedy and Boyer, while Garner, Elle Brooks and Lees will contribute further to Hanslow's selection headaches.
“It’s (Ovens and Murray) always been a huge rival,” Hanslow said.
“Even when we go to association championships it sometimes comes down to the Goulburn and O&M, which is great, it’s within our region.
“It will be good.”
Saturday’s game between the Goulburn Valley League and the Ovens and Murray League will begin at 2:30pm at the Mooroopna Recreation Reserve.
