Introducing our 2022 Premier League leadership group
Blaze 2022 Leadership Group (L to R): Bronnee Loy, Clare McCrohon, Jess Bowden, Katelyn Anderson (absent Taylah Davies)
South Coast Blaze are thrilled to announce our Opens and U23s leadership group for Season 2022.
The #OurBlaze 2022 Season launch took place on Saturday March 5 at Wollongong Golf club.
On the night, Taylah Davies, Illawarra junior and Swifts Academy athlete, together with creative mid-courter Katelyn Anderson (nee Begley) were named Co-Captains of the Opens team. Both are experienced players who have returned to the leadership group – Anderson was Co-Captain in 2021, while Davies has been Blaze’s Club Captain since 2020 and will don the prestigious number 1 dress again this year.
“I’m so proud to be the Club Captain again this year and I’m really looking forward to seeing what everyone can bring to the Blaze in 2022,” Davies said.
“It’s important to remember why we put on that red dress and inspiring grassroots netball players is at the heart of that.
“The last few years have been tough and this year I know we’re all just looking forward to getting out there and representing the South Coast Blaze family.”
Pictured: Blaze Opens 2022 Team (L to R):
Back row: Marji Parr (Head Coach), Chelsea Bolton, Te-Arn Bradley, Aisha Bower, Belinda Sutton, Hannah Kuhar, Heather Smith (Assistant Coach)
Front row: Sharon Briggs (Manager), Katelyn Anderson, Shelby Mallon, Kristina Brice, Abbey McFadden, Kimberlee Gilmour (Assistant Coach)
The U23s side will be led by experienced mid-courter, Clare McCrohon. McCrohon is returning to the role of Captain after taking a year off to recover from a knee injury. Fast and extremely talented attacker Bronnee Loy and adept defender Jess Bowden will provide strong support for the U23s as Co-Vice Captains.
“While 2021 was a tough year across the community and all sports, the South Coast Blaze continued to deliver an outstanding high performance netball program during the year,” said McCrohon.
“It is a credit to this club’s professionalism and fighting spirit that we are standing here strong, excited and ready for season 2022.”
Pictured: Blaze U23s 2022 Team (L to R):
Back row: Anastasia Afoa, Papi Alaalatoa, Sharnee Behr, Jess Bowden, Manaia Mete, Jade Dawson, Mia Evans, Kiah Yealland
Front row: Emma Mateo, Clare McCrohon, Gabby Eaton, Ashleigh Selwyn, Bronnee Loy, Lindsay Tui
Pictured: Blaze U23s 2022 Full Squad (L to R):
Back row: Emma Mateo, Papi Alaalatoa, Torius Faimanu, Anastasia Afoa, Bilyana Milevski, Sharnee Behr, Jess Bowden, Ashleigh Selwyn, Mia Evans, Kiah Yealland
Middle row: Jennie Webster (Assistant Coach), Clare McCrohon, Isabella Hall, Isabella Wood, Alexa Gammone, Jade Dawson, Manaia Mete, Regan Tweddle (Head Coach)
Front row: Holly Wilson, Liana, Taufa’ao, Amy Younie, Bronnee Loy, Gabby Eaton, Lindsay Tui, Lisa McCrohon (Manager)
Blaze is also delighted to have two prominent South Coast based companies back on board as major sponsors for the 2022 season, IMB Bank as official naming rights partner and Cleary Bros as major partner. IMB Bank and Cleary Bros will support the Club’s Premier League teams, Talent Identification Program and other elite and grassroots netball programs.
IMB South Coast Blaze Chairperson Karina Franke is looking forward to the 2022 season with the new leadership group and renewed support from key sponsors.
“We are so excited to be heading into our third year of the Premier League competition and hope to get our first full season to show what we are truly capable of,” Ms Franke said.
“I congratulate all the players who have been named in the leadership group, I know they will do a fantastic job and make our Blaze family proud. We are also grateful that both IMB Bank and Cleary Bros have backed our club for another year, because without them and our other sponsors, we wouldn’t be able to give our upcoming talent a strong elite pathway. Bring on the 2022 season!”
The Netball NSW Premier League season will begin on Wednesday 6 April, at Netball Central in Sydney Olympic Park, with an optional pre-season competition scheduled for Wednesday 30 March. The week beginning Monday 1 August is scheduled to be Grand Final week.
The format of the competition will change in 2022, with 14 regular-season rounds and all teams playing each other once in the opening nine before they split into Conference for the final five. Read more about the new format here.
All games can be streamed online in real time through the Origin Energy Premier League website.
Pictured: Blaze 2022 Leadership Group 2 (L to R): Bronnee Loy, Jess Bowden, Katelyn Anderson, Clare McCrohon (absent Taylah Davies)
Photo Credit: May Bailey/Clusterpix Photography
