Premier League netball returns to the court and Oakdale is keen to take it up to the big guns

The 2019 Premier League netball season begins this Friday and club captains are hoping to finally knock off the competition’s big guns – Contax and Matrics.

2019 SA Premier League netball captains (back row L-R) Georgia Beaton (Contax), Jessica Ward (Tango), Laura Packard (Matrics), Alyse Taylor (Metro Jets), Laura Scriven (Newton Jaguars). (front row L-R) Teri Schubert (Metro Jets), Rachael Mitchell (Matrics), Esther Young (Garville), Lauren Gibbons (Oakdale), Brittany Bugg (Woods Panthers). Picture: Sports in Focus

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Oakdale captain Lauren Gibbons believes her side has the depth and talent to challenge for this year’s Premier League netball title.

Gibbons’s team takes on Matrics at Netball SA Stadium when the new season starts this Friday (May 17).

The first-year skipper hopes Oakdale can go better than last season when it lost an elimination final to Garville.

“When we are on and playing as a team, we are really tough to beat,” Gibbons said.

“We don’t have any position that is weak this year, which is really important.

“We’ve got so much depth so it’s just about being able to put a consistent effort together. As a club we’ve always challenged Matrics and Contax but trying to put four-quarter efforts together will be the key.”

Oakdale will be without mid-court player Kelly Altmann, who is now with the Thunderbirds, but the club has recruited Ashleigh Thiel from Tango.

Ex-Oakdale mid-courter Kelly Altmann in action for the Thunderbirds this season. Picture: Sarah Reed

Contax opens its season against Garville in a rematch of last season’s grand final.

Former Thunderbirds goal shooter Carla Borrego returns to Garville after claiming the league’s Most Valuable Player award last season. Garville will also be boosted with the inclusion of ex-Forestville and junior Australian basketballer Olivia Thompson.

But last week it was dealt a blow when captain Esther Young tore her anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee in a trial game.

“It’s obviously pretty disappointing not to be out there this year,” Young said.

“But I take my role as captain seriously so I’ll be out watching each game and mentoring the young squad.

“Coming off a grand final loss, we want to work harder and do that little bit more to get on top this year.

Garville captain. Esther Young will miss this season after tearing her ACL. Picture: Calum Robertson

“For us it’s about having that belief in ourselves and being united as a squad.”

Contax is aiming to win a third championship in a row after beating Matrix (59-50) in 2017 and Garville (73-39) last year.

Skipper Georgia Beaton welcomed the challenge.

“This year would be the triple (premiership), so it’s something we are striving for,” Beaton said.

“We are going to be hunted after the past few years of success.

“We’ve all got that common goal that we really do want to win but we know it’s not going to come easy.

“We’ve got a few core players from last year and the girls who get picked to fill the gaps will step up and I have no doubt they will relish in the opportunity.”

In other round one games, Metro Jets play Tango and Woods Panthers battle Newton Jaguars.