Lions’ move blows new-look 2018 Toyota Cup wide open ahead of opening round

The Lions won their 10^th consecutive title last season and after the question was asked of the entire club and then a motion put forward to the committee, there was overwhelming support to move away from a first and second string selection policy.

“It’s about building our club and trying something different really, we won the 10th so we’re mixing it up a bit now,” Orange City president Sarah Thorley said.

“We think it’s a better way to develop our juniors too.

“We put it to the club to see what they’d like to do, that was a pretty even split so we took it to the committee after that and it was definitely in favour of two even sides.

“There’s no harm in us trying something different and we think it’s a really positive move for netball in Orange in general, we’re really looking forward to seeing what happens this season.”

Although the move technically stops the possibility of the Lions’ top side winning an 11^th straight title – nine of which came under the Robin Hood banner – Thorley said she’s still hopeful one of the club’s outfits can make sure Orange City is still etched on the Toyota Cup come season’s end.

In fact, she’d love nothing more than seeing an all-Lions decider too, which she says could be a real possibility.

Considering the club’s Newey’s Drive-Thru Cleaners side will boast the likes of Lauren Williams, Caitlyn Harvey, Kirsty Sullivan and Erin Johnstone while Tegan Dray, Thorley, Millie Wilcox, Sammie Spicer and Kristin Zinga will lead the Craig Harvey Mechanical outfit, there’s undeniable quality across both top division teams.

“Hopefully one of the sides wins so it’ll be 11 in a row for the club and we certainly hope that an all-Orange City grand final is a possibility,” Thorley explained.

“We had a lot of talent in our second side last year as well, so both sides should be pretty strong and we’ve been training for a while and training hard too during the off-season.

“We’ll welcome the competition, it’s a good challenge. 

“There’s the usual suspects like Hawks Royal, Vipers and Life Studio that I’m sure will be right up there but the other sides have gone through some changes too so we’re not entirely sure what they’ll all look like.

“Then with the Orange High School Hornets coming back into the competition as well, it’s almost like it’s a clean slate for every side really.”

Considering Orange City’s split, many would argue 2016 and 2017 runners-up Hawks Royal could be considering title favourites, especially with the addition of former Dooleys Metro League star Emily Neal.

Two blues ace Tash Rudd put the kibosh on that though, she said Neal linking with her side is a huge boost but also suggested “everyone is still chasing Orange City”.

“They had quality young players in their second side last year and they’re not necessarily young anymore either so, you know, it’s probably about time those players take that next step and I actually think both of Orange City’s sides will be a real force this year,” Rudd said.

“I think everyone will still be looking to them as front-runners, maybe a few sides will be looking to us too.

“All the division one sides, maybe aside from Vipers, all kind of have that mix of young players and senior players and it’s nice to see that coming through, that’ll make it pretty interesting I think.

“Obviously we’ve picked up Em and she’s fantastic, she brings so much experience with Northern Suburbs and a steady, calm head as well which will be good for us.

“We’ve got virtually the same side outside that so a premiership is definitely the goal, for ourselves but then for the club too and people like Amanda Hurford who started Hawks.

“It’s such an amazing club, we’d love to finally get it done.”

Hawks DVM will also contest the top tier this year, as will Life Studio and Life Studio Mid West Eyes while the Hornets earned promotion after claiming the division two title in 2017, Kinross makes way for them.

”It’s really pleasing to be back in division one,” Dray, the Hornets’ coach, said, admitting her side isn’t too focused on long-term goals just yet.

“Division two was great experience for the girls and they went on to win that, so this will be another challenge for them.

“We don’t want to get relegated, but otherwise it’s a bit more individual at this point.

“It’s hard to say what’s going to happen or where we want to be at the end of the year because the other sides have gone through changes, and we need to get back up to speed.

“The mindset needs to change a bit coming back up to division one and we need to prepare for the extra pace and intensity too, but there’s a lot of talent in the side so I think the girls will handle it.”

Milika and Tabua Tuinakauvadra headline the side, while the likes of Marah Robinson, Keely Prevett, Haegan Boland and Poppy Keegan will also don black and gold.

Dray went on to explain that the Hornets will do things a little bit differently to previous years, in that they’ll boast players from outside of Orange High.

“We’ve also got Sarah Eslick coming back, she finished school last year but will play for us and Bailie-Rose Miller will also play, she’s from outside Orange High too and played in the Orange under-15 side in the Regional League,” Dray explained.

“It’s a bit different to what we’ve done in the past, but this has to be about giving other players the chance to play division one if they can get there too, and we have our school-based competitions outside of this to be all-Orange High.

“That’s one thing I know a lot of people love seeing is how these juniors are coming through the association, this team is another really good example of that.”

Saturday’s Toyota Cup season kicks off with Orange City Newey’s Drive-Thru Cleaners taking on the Orange Physiotherapy Vipers from 1.10pm.

Hawks Royals play Life Studio Mid West Eyes and Life Studio plays Hawks DVM, both from 2.30pm, before Orange City Craig Harvey Mechanical caps off the opening round against Orange High from 3.50pm.

All four games are at Sir Neville Howse Stadium, as every game will be this season.

The 2018 games that jump off the draw are Hawks’ derby in round two, the Lions’ in round five and Life Studio’s in round seven, along with the first Hawks Royal and Orange City clash in round four.