Calder Cannons enter NAB League Girls season with ‘untapped potential’
Calder Cannons surprised many with their charge to the NAB League Girls grand final last season and the club’s emerging talent has it set for another successful season. SEE THE 2020 SQUAD
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Calder Cannons coach Matt O’Connor says his team has “untapped potential” ahead of the new season.
After reaching the NAB League Girls grand final in 2019, the Cannons had two players drafted to the AFLW, and O’Connor believes the club can repeat its achievements in 2020.
SEE THE CALDER CANNONS NAB LEAGUE GIRLS SQUAD BELOW
Captain Georgia Patrikios was taken by St Kilda at pick No.5 and Krstel Petrevski was snapped up by Melbourne with pick No.78.
Laura Cocomello, Tamsin Crook, Kiara Delia, Isabel Young, Georgia Sampson and 19-year-old Grace Dicker are set to feature prominently this season.
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“Last year was a fantastic achievement and having two girls drafted, that’s what the program’s about,” O’Connor said.
“We’re trying to develop them as three-area players, so they can play back, forward and through the midfield.
“It’s a really exciting time at the Calder Cannons because there’s some really talented girls that didn’t make the list.
“It shows local clubs are taking girls footy seriously and our job is getting harder because there’s more talent to pick from.”
Cocomello will captain the club this season, while Tamsin Crook and Kiara Delia have been named her deputies.
Reigning NAB League Girls best-and-fairest Georgie Prespakis will also be closely monitored by AFLW recruiters this season, despite being two years away from draft eligibility.
The star midfielder and sister of Carlton’s Maddy Prespakis won the under-18 competition’s league medal as a 16-year-old last season.
O’Connor said having the emerging talent around the club would help her teammates’ development as well.
“We’ve got to keep challenging her and that’s a challenge in itself,” he said.
“She’s obviously a highly-talented young footballer, there’ll be opportunities for her to try out for Vic Metro and we’d get her to also train with the boys program as well.
“Ultimately, she will bring that back to the girls in our group as well because they learn from each other really well.”
O’Connor takes the coaching reins from Paul Tilley, returning to the club after a year off.
Calder will kick off its season with a grand final rematch against Northern Knights at Bundoora’s RMIT University on Saturday.
The match is part of a double-header, with Geelong Falcons taking on Gippsland Power.
CALDER CANNONS GIRLS SQUAD 2020
Mia Briedis (Keilor)
Harriet Cashmore (Aberfeldie)
Charlotte Clayton (Moonee Valley)
Laura Cocomello (Strathmore)
Tamsin Crook (Moonee Valley)
Neve Crowley (Aberfeldie)
Kiara Delia (Pascoe Vale)
Grace Dicker (St Marys)
Maddison Ford (Wallan)
Zali Friswell (Aberfeldie)
Tahlia Gillard (Essendon Doutta Stars)
Shenay Ibrahim (Flemington)
Kasey Lennox (Wallan)
Alisa Magri (Sunbury Lions)
Olivia Manfre (Keilor)
Abbey McDonald (Sunbury Lions)
Mali McLeod (Essendon Doutta Stars)
Shelby Meyers (Essendon Doutta Stars)
Kasey Mueller (Sunbury Lions)
Tara Newman (Moonee Valley)
Ella Nickolaus (Essendon Doutta Stars)
Peppa Poultney (Darebin Falcons)
Georgie Prespakis (Sunbury Lions)
Freda Puruntatameri (Palmerston Magpies)
Tahlia Read (Maribyrnong Park)
Kayley Reid (Diamond Creek)
Isabella Rowland (Keilor)
Georgia Sampson (Strathmore)
Claudia Santoro (Aberfeldie)
Trilby Sheppard (Westmeadows)
Aggie Singh (Waratah)
Ruby Smith (Westmeadows)
Maree Stephenson (Wallan)
Maggie Styles (Pascoe Vale)
Reese Sutton (Sunbury Lions)
Emilia Yassir (Pascoe Vale)
Isabel Young (Aberfeldie)
Jessica Zakkour (Greenvale)