New Narrogin and Districts Netball Association president Rheannon Turton excited about 2022 season

The Narrogin and Districts Netball Association will have a shorter 2022 season after feedback from players last year indicated they wanted a shorter regular season. Almost 50 teams have nominated to take part in the NDNA this year, with the new competition kicking off for some junior grades last weekend while the rest of the divisions, including A1, will start this week. The association has lost three senior teams this year down to 21 in total and these have been split into five grades, A1, A2 division 1, A2 division 2, A3 and A4 with each grade consisting of four teams except for A4. There are 26 junior teams for 2022 but unfortunately one junior grade has been lost. After a player survey last year the feedback received was to trim the regular season back to 12 rounds and then play finals, rather than the normal 15-week regular season and then finals. That has been implemented this season and the NDNA has also made some changes to their fixtures, trialling one game at 6.30pm on Friday nights. Outside clubs such as Williams, Wagin, Wickepin and Pingelly will all still have home games during the new season. Cuballing, Pingelly, Wagin and Williams will contest the A1 division this year. Wagin appear to be the team to beat with a very strong team list with some players returning from pregnancy or injury. Fee Pocock, a previous fairest and best winner, and Ata Elliot return for Wagin to strengthen an already solid line-up. Cuballing will be hoping to pick up where they left off at the end of the 2021 and they have exciting youngster Amelia Corasaniti in the A1 team. Pingelly have lost star shooter Sheree Blechynden due to ankle surgery in the off-season but Pingelly and Williams both remain relatively similar from their teams last year and both have managed to secure players from the Flames who are not playing in A1 this season. Chelsea Mulcahy and Abby Munns have joined Pingelly and Kate Poultney has joined Williams. The A2 division 1 competition looks to also be very competitive with defending champions Pingelly set to face Flames and Wickepin who have both dropped down from A1 and Cuballing. Rheannon Turton has taken the reins as the new NDNA president and was excited for the season ahead. “I am hoping for another successful year,” Turton said. “We have teams already training for Member Championships in June and preparing for other regional events. “We know that COVID is going to continue to raise its head and cause issues, just when we think we are in the clear but I have an amazing committee and together we are going to ensure that 2022 runs as smoothly as possible. “I feel (COVID) has played a part in the number decrease this year. The association has brought in rules to allow players to fill in for up to five games, up from three, due to COVID and there are plans in place should teams lose the majority of their players.”