Euroa, Ararat, Warrnambool, South Bendigo: Netball recruiting for 2025 hots up
Recruiting is still going on for next year’s country netball season. Last year’s GV premier has bolstered its ranks. See all the signings for 2025.
The off-season recruiting action hasn’t only been confined to football with some major player moves in country netball for next year.
The Weekly Times has come up with more than 20 of the most significant signings for 2025.
Among them are Ovens & Murray league premiers, Yarrawonga, losing two of its players from the flag winning line-up.
Grand final best-on-court, Emily Laracy, and Laura Ryan are returning to clubs they’ve previously played at in Corowa-Rutherglen and Numurkah.
But there are some other big player movements for next year.
PAIGE BIDDLE, Ararat Eagles to Ararat Rats
The reigning Mininera District league best and fairest is making the step up to the Wimmera league with her sister Faith.
They played for Ararat Eagles and Paige won the league best and fairest with 36 votes and Faith filled third spot in the same count.
ALEX BOOKER, Newtown & Chilwell to Queenscliff
A versatile goaler, Booker has learnt from the best at the GFNL powerhouse where she was part of a number of A grade premiership teams.
At only 23 and a current VNL player, Booker’s arrival strengthens the BFNL club.
JO COUCH, Nirranda to Warrnambool
The multiple premiership and league best and fairest midcourter in the Warrnambool District league is a key signing for a team hoping to push further into finals in 2025.
LILY ELDRIDGE, Camperdown to Nirranda
The goaler will lead the Warrnambool District powerhouse, which capped a three-peat in 2024, as its new A grade coach next year.
Has played Hampden and Geelong netball with Camperdown and Colac and was a premiership player at Alvie.
KIAHNA FALLON, South Barwon to St Joseph’s
The two-time Geelong league team-of-the year midcourter’s defection from the Swans to rivals St Joseph’s is a massive coup for a club hoping to go the final step in 2025 after a losing grand final.
MIA FALLON, Mooroopna to Drysdale
The runner-up in the Goulburn Valley league A grade best and fairest count this year is heading back for another stint in the Bellarine league.
The star midcourter played for Geelong Amateurs in 2021 before being a dominant player in GV ranks, including finished tied for Mooroopna’s best and fairest this year.
ABBY GILMORE, Woodend-Hesket to Shepparton United
Star shooter in the Riddell District league making the step up to the highly competitive GV competition next year.
Gilmore has played in the last two flags for Woodend-Hesket after suffering a serious injury in 2022.
JESSIE GRENVOLD, Southern Saints to Daylesford
Originally from Adelaide where she played in the SA Premier League, Grenvold played VNL with Southern Saints where was named joint MVP with Ovens & Murray star Sophie Hanrahan.
Grenvold also was picked in the team-of-the-year and is a massive signing for the Central Highlands league premiers this year.
MOLLY GRIBBLE, Corio to Belmont Lions
The reigning Geelong District best and fairest medallist is among several Corio players joining ex-Devils coach and new Belmont mentor Shayna Brown at the Lions.
Gribble, a workhorse in the midcourt, adds valuable experience to the Lions.
AVA HAMILTON, Leitchville-Gunbower to Kangaroo Flat
Making a return to the Bendigo league with the 2024 runner-up to premiers Gisborne.
Hamilton is coming off a second-place finish in the Heathcote District league best and fairest and won Leitchville-Gunbower’s best player award.
Previously played for Strathfieldsaye in the Bendigo league.
POPPY HULM, Wagga Tigers to Ganmain-Grong Grong-Matong
Up-and-coming Riverina talent who played for Wagga Tigers, mainly in the defensive end of the court, this year.
Joins RFNL rival Ganmain-Grong Grong-Matong for her second season at A grade level.
EMILY LARACY, Yarrawonga to Corowa-Rutherglen
Best-on-court in Yarrawonga’s premiership win this year over Wodonga Raiders.
The talented defender is heading back to Corowa-Rutherglen where she played before the club’s open grade teams sat out the 2023 season after just falling short of a grand final berth the previous year.
SAMI KRELTSZHEIM, Wangaratta Rovers to Euroa
Triple Wangaratta Rovers A grade best and fairest winner is joining the Goulburn Valley league premiers.
Adds more potency to an already attacking end.
LILY McKIMMIE, Wodonga to Wodonga Raiders
O & M teenage star is moving across town from a club where she won this year’s best and fairest at the age of 17 to the team that has been beaten narrowly in the last two A grade grand finals.
EMILY MILES, Romsey to Gisborne
Standout player for the Riddell District club for the last two years joins the Bendigo league reigning premiers.
Picked in the RDFNL team-of-the-year and was picked for interleague.
ROMI MILLER, Horsham Demons to Birchip-Watchem
Premiership defender in the Wimmera league is switching to the North Central league in a big boost for the Bulls.
Miller has also been picked in the Wimmera league team-of-the-year the last two seasons.
AMANDA O’MALLEY, Werribee Centrals to Ocean Grove
A multiple premiership player and league medallist at Centrals, the goal keeper arrives at the Bellarine premiers after a move to the seaside town.
ZOE PRENTICE, Corowa-Rutherglen to Geelong West
The wing defence, who has moved to Geelong for university, bolsters the Giants’ midcourt stocks as it strives to better a semi final finish in 2025.
Won the Ovens & Murray best and fairest winner before moving into it's A grade ranks.
GRACE PULLEN, Geelong Amateur to Winchelsea
A marquee singing for Winchelsea, which is hoping to go one step further after a losing grand final.
The goaler is a former Tasmanian and Victorian state league player.
TAYLAH REIDY, Greta to Myrtleford
The 2018 Ovens & King league best and fairest winner has committed full-time to the O & M club along with her sister Jorja.
Between them they have won four A grade flags for Greta.
GABE RICHARDS, Elmore to South Bendigo
Former Australian Opals basketballer and star player in the WNBL, Richards has led Elmore to two flags in the last three seasons in the Heathcote District league.
Previously played for Golden Square in the Bendigo league.
LAURA RYAN, Yarrawonga to Numurkah
Co-coach of Yarrawonga’s Ovens & Murray A grade premiership team this year and also played in the club’s 2022 flag.
Ryan returns to Numurkah where she played as a junior and is determined to lift the Murray league club up the ladder next year.
BRIDIE WILLIS, Osborne to Marrar
Osborne 2023 premiership player returning to her former club where she won two A grade best and fairests in 2019 and 2022.
Won Osborne’s best and fairest this season and make the move back to Marrar as co-coach.
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