NETBALL

VNL

By BLAKE METCALF-HOLT

 

ENTERING 2025, Gippsland Stars strive forward into a space previously unoccupied in the area in regards to netball.

The announcement came last year that the club would be entering a Championship squad in the highest level of competition in the Victorian Netball League after their inaugural season with a 23 & Under side.

Two additional junior squads will also be alongside the most established teams with a 19 & Under (competed last year) and 17 & Under announced as well for season 2025.

The now seasoned 23 & Under side already featured some of the absolute best across the region and the Championship team gives even more opportunity for the game’s greats to shine by representing where they come from on the largest stage.

Bring it on: Squads have been announced for the Gippsland Stars newest Championship team as well as 23 & Under, 19 & Under and 17 & Under squads. Photograph supplied

The Championship Gippsland Stars will be led by the experienced Karen Meredith, current coach at Pakenham FNC and lead coach of the Eastern Talent Academy in Gippsland.

Meredith is supported by the playing coaches of Stacie Gardiner as assistant and Ramayer Gourley as specialist coach.

Gardiner played high-level netball across VNL most recently for Peninsula Waves and Drouin in the Gippsland League. She was assistant coach of the 23 & Under side last season.

Gourley is the current A Grade coach of Moe, having won back-to-back premiership heading into the new year, and has played at Championship-level for Melbourne University Lightning.

New players to the Stars such as Daisy Hill, Hannah Kuhar, Katie Fone, Sally Deellar and Shannon Blackman all bring a wealth of VNL experience that will help them be as competitive, coherent and as fun to watch as possible.

Some players step up into the senior division such as Alison Dwyer (Bairnsdale) and Sophie Lecchino (Traralgon) with a chance to show off their abilities after a go around in the 23 & Under competition.

More Championship players are yet to be announced.

Player lists have been finalised across each of the three development squads accompanying the headlining Championship player signings.

From across each of the four teams so far, 49 players have been recognised from 22 clubs spanning across Gippsland.