New Waratah women’s playing-coach Lisa Roberts says a new generation will keep the team up the top of the NTFL competition

NEW Waratah women’s playing-coach Lisa Roberts says a talented new generation is emerging at her club, as it looks to avenge last season’s NTFL Grand Final defeat to Southern Districts.

Lisa Roberts is Waratah’s new playing-coach for season 2020-21, and she believes her team can avenge its grand final defeat to Southern Districts, with Tahs’ new NTFL campaign beginning against Palmerston on October 4. Picture GLENN CAMPBELL

THE new generation is emerging at Waratah as it prepares to avenge the pain of its Women’s NTFL Grand Final defeat to Southern Districts back on March 7.

And Tracy Village Falcons netball star Lauren Pluker will be part of that new generation in the Warriors’ 2020-21 campaign, which begins against Palmerston at Gardens Oval on October 4.

“Lauren is brand new to footy, but already it’s like she’s had a couple of seasons under her belt,” new Waratah playing-coach Lisa Roberts told the NT News.

“Our captain Lauren O’Shea recruited her from netball.

“And Isabella Rapson has been really dedicated and committed to improving so far at pre-season training.”

A stalwart at a proud team which has had incredible success – the Tahs won five consecutive NTFL titles between 2011 and 2016 – Roberts said the fire to reach the peak of Territory women’s football once again remained as strong as ever.

The Warriors fell to the Crocodiles by 18 points in last season’s premiership decider, after winning the minor premiership, dropping just two games in the home-and-away competition.

“We’ll take some lessons out of that (grand final) loss – mainly that we still need to work on our effort over four quarters,” Roberts said.

Gone are the days when Waratah was expected to beat most of its opposing teams by big margins.

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“I wouldn’t say there’s a gap (between all the Premier League teams) at all,” Roberts said.

“We didn’t know what the outcome would be until late with most of our games last season.

“We know the other teams have recruited strongly and they’re going to be competitive.

“(But) we’re getting good numbers to training, even though it’s always tough at this time of the year with some of our players involved in other sports like netball and cricket.”

Throughout Roberts’ brilliant career the two-time Colleen Gwynne Medal winner and last year’s NT Thunder vice-captain has thrived on challenges.

And after admitting she was surprised to receive the coaching responsibilities for this upcoming season – after Trudie Hopgood’s one-season stint, following Tahs legend Gwynne’s largely successful period at the helm – she is now ready to give it her all.

“I don’t know if I’m excited. It (the coaching role) came unexpectedly,” Roberts said.

“Player-coaching will be a huge challenge, but I’m looking forward to it.

“I learnt a lot from Gwynny – she was my captain when I was vice-captain.

“She has great knowledge of the game, and great experience. And she brought a lot of emotion when our players needed to be fired up.

“Trudie brought a different perspective with her basketball background and enthusiasm for the role.”

Roberts is ready to call upon the strong foundation values for success which the club built during its era of five consecutive titles.

Southern Districts leaders Megan Craufurd and Lateesha Jeffrey, and Waratah leaders Lisa Roberts and Lauren O'Shea pictured ahead of the 2019-20 NTFL Women’s Grand Final. Picture: KATRINA BRIDGEFORD

“We were all really great mates then. We built a strong culture and relationships among each other,” she said.

“Now we need new players to keep coming through and to continue that strong culture.

“I remember Ange Foley and Abbey Holmes from back then, who both went on to get drafted by the Adelaide Crows.

“Abbey kicked 105 goals in a season, and Ange won the league best-and-fairest twice.

“They had contagious positive attitudes.”

Last season’s Gwynne Medal winner for the second time after kicking 20 goals and finishing in her team’s best 11 times, Roberts still believes she has plenty of good football to come.

“The body feels good. The key has always been to keep moving,” she said.

“I’d like to have a crack in the forward line again this season.

“I’ve played predominantly midfield and backline, but I really enjoyed it up front last season.”