“When one door closes, another one opens”.
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That’s the attitude Confederates coach Fiona Reith is taking into this year’s women’s Premier League Hockey season, her new-look side will be gunning to back up last year’s finals appearance, its first since re-entering the competition in 2012.
That’ll be tough considering the sheer amount of talent Confederates has lost, Reith admits, with NSW star Pip Mannix, Australian Country rep Rachel Hoey, Annabelle Tierney, Shona Manning and Hannah Dawson among those who have moved on.
Mannix and Hoey will both line up against Confederates this year too, they’ll play for CYMS in the club’s 2018 Premier League Hockey return.
But Reith says that turnover, while substantial, creates plenty of opportunities for Confederates’ younger bridgade to step up and shine, and the outfit still has plenty of class in the likes of Ellen Warner, Heidi Townsend and Eva Reith-Snare.
“Rachel Pengilly could still be around too, which would be helpful for us,” Reith said.
“We have lost of lot experience and maturity, but we’ve still got plenty of good players and our numbers have been pretty similar to last year with a lot of juniors coming through. Those players leaving puts more responsibility on the other players as well and I think that’s a good thing.
“Sometimes it’s the unlikeliest of heroes that do step up in that situation, because they’ve never had the chance before, so I’m looking forward to seeing what we can produce.”
With all that in mind, Reith said Confederates’ goal heading into the season will be the same as 2017 – a top four finish, with anything after that a bonus.
“We’ll go in with the same attitude and goal, yes,” she said.
“What happened last year was unbelievable, we had a side that really gelled together and that’s what’s so important so we hope that can happen again.
“We’ve had a trial against St Pat’s and we didn’t have everyone there, we lost than 3-1 but we were pretty good. We threw the ball around and it was really encouraging.”
Although CYMS’ return to the competition has cost her side a handful of players Reith says her club feels zero resentment or bitterness toward the green and golds.
More than anything, she thinks it’s exciting to have former Hockeyroo Jade Georgiou back involved and set to take the field again in Orange.
But, she did also admit she’s not sure what impact a third team in Orange could have.
“Historically, to me, three sides hasn’t really worked in Orange, I’m just not sure we have enough players,” Reith said, Kinross-CYMS was forced to withdraw due to a lack of players back in 2015.
“It hasn’t affected us that much and I don’t know how Ex-Services are going, but those players do have to come from somewhere. Bathurst seems to do it with three teams though, so we’ll see what happens.
“But it really is great to see Jade back playing hockey in Orange, it’s a great opportunity for everyone to play against her and with her in CYMS’ case.
“It will be interesting though, to see how it plays out.”
The 2018 women’s Premier League Hockey season kicks off on Saturday, May 12. Confederates play Bathurst St Pat’s while CYMS travel to Lithgow to face Panthers.
Ex-Services, the third of Orange’s sides, opens its season against reigning champions Bathurst City.