Charlotte Morey expected to play a key role after Zara Walters’ departure

With Zara Walters earning a shot with the Melbourne Vixens, the Geelong Cougars are expecting one local star to play a key role in the new 2024 Victorian Netball league season.

Charlotte Morey is expected to play a key role for the Cougars. Picture: Mark Wilson

Geelong Cougars coach Gerard Murphy believes a South Barwon young gun can help fill a role left by new Melbourne Vixen signing Zara Walters.

The Cougars’ 2024 Victorian Netball League campaign gets underway on March 6 amid a competition restructure.

Murphy was thrilled with Walters’ accession to the Suncorp Super Netball before revealing a multi-pronged plan to cover her absence which included South Barwon midcourter Charlotte Morey.

“Zara probably played a bit more centre last year, a little bit of wing attack and rotated through,” Murphy said. “Charlotte will fill a portion of that, and Ally (O’Connor) and Kaitlyn (Sheringham) will cover a portion of that too.

“We’ve got plenty of cover across centre and wing attack.”

Morey, who will represent Victoria at the under 19 national titles this year, is one of two players, alongside Kiahna Fallon, promoted to the Cougars’ championship squad after helping the club win a division one premiership last year.

“It (championship) will be a bit different for them but they won’t take long to adjust to the different pace and intensity of the next level,” Murphy predicted.

The coach said Sheringham, who is returning after having a child, was building her conditioning back up, while defender Brooke Allan, a Colac premiership player, had been balancing duties after joining new SSN franchise Melbourne Mavericks as a training partner.

“We just modify her program based on what’s happening in the week,” Murphy said of Allan. “But certainly (her) fitness is improving to another level.“

By Murphy’s admission, the Cougars exceeded their own expectations in 2023, reaching a preliminary final of the championship division and lifting the division one trophy.

They hope to contend again in a VNL structure now split into championship and under 23 competitions.

Murphy said the Cougars had been “set up to win” but there was “no magic formula” considering the introduction of three new clubs.

“The way you get there is different, it’s not all about winning, you’ve got to work hard and you’ve got to be smart as well,” he said.

“I think the team changes were just a bit of an incentive for some people to switch clubs and for some an opportunity … there are a few more younger players (in the league).”

Each week, KommunityTV will live stream an exclusive match of the round from the VNL through the Geelong Advertiser website.

Originally published as Charlotte Morey expected to play a key role after Zara Walters’ departure