The Demons have been busy gathering the nuts and bolts to build a winning machine since the last whistle of the 2025 Goulburn Valley League season, and the latest coup is one who’d beeped on coach Shinea Sali’s radar for quite some time.
Sophie Garner, an athletic midcourter with star qualities, is returning to Deakin Reserve after spending the past few seasons at Shepparton Swans.
The centre weapon represented Victoria at 17-and-under level in 2022 and is on the 23-and-under roster for Bendigo Strikers, having previously served fellow VNL franchise City West Falcons.
“She’s a huge get for us; I’ve played a lot of netball with Soph at the Swans so I knew exactly what I needed in our team and she just fitted that profile,” Sali said.
“(She adds) that athletic ability through the midcourt. We’re obviously coming off a season with just seven players - Montanna (Burke) and I played four quarters every single week this year - so we really wanted a strong midcourter to join our team.
“She brings class but she also fits the vibe of our team.
“Yeah, she’s a freak on the court but she’s actually an incredible person off the court too which was pretty important when I put a search in for this particular player.”
United has also added extra height and depth by attracting Chloe Meulenmeesters to the club - something Sali admitted came completely out of the blue.
And as soon as she saw the former Mooroopna defender in action, she was sold.
“She just registered for trials and came along - I knew her from Mooroopna but hadn’t really delved too deep into where she was from,” Sali said.
“But the minute she stepped on that court at trials, I literally looked at Nat Kirby and I was like ‘I need her’.
“She was a really beautiful surprise and the way she moves that ball through the court, her strength but also her speed, is really exciting.”
With Meulenmeesters and Garner on board, as well as ace young shooter Claudia Plattfuss, Sali had one message reserved for the league.
“We’re going for it, let’s just say that,” she said.
Around the traps, Moama has landed a new goaler in the form of Jinaya Nurse.
The teen talent clinched Stanhope’s A-grade best-and-fairest in 2025, having previously spent time in Mooroopna’s youth ranks.
In other Murray Netball League news, Jenni McCluskey has taken the leading role at Congupna and will coach the club’s A and B-grade outfits in 2026.
A decorated mentor at the likes of Mooroopna, Euroa, Shepparton East and Murchison-Toolamba, McCluskey continues her B-grade role at The Road while taking over from Wendy and Sophie Sidebottom in A-grade.
Mulwala has picked up 2024 Numurkah best-and-fairest Lara Langford, while the Lions have elected Laura Gorman and Casey Parker as A-grade co-coaches for next season.
And in the Picola District Netball League, Stacey Parks has jumped across from Mulwala to lead Tungamah while Tanya Caruana and Laura Henderson have taken the reins as Dookie United’s A-grade co-coaches.
Lastly, Waaia has signed midcourter Rhylee Merkesteyn, a former A-grade best-and-fairest winner at Congupna.
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