A rogue message has resulted in the biggest movement of the Goulburn Valley League netball off-season.
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With an asterisk over her sister Grace’s availability for next season, Euroa coach Ellie Warnock gave Kyabram jewel Hollie Reid a buzz on the off chance she’d be interested in joining the Magpies.
It worked.
Warnock was relieved when her phone lit up with an affirmative answer, almost in disbelief she’d call one of the league’s rising stars a teammate in 2024.
“I sent Hollie a message hoping she’d make the move across to Euroa and she decided to, so that was really exciting,” Warnock said.
“She’s such an exceptional player and an exceptional person; she’ll provide so much versatility in our midcourt.
“The good thing about Hollie is she can play every position ― centre, wing attack and wing defence.
“She’s such a strong player, she drives onto the ball so hard and her defence is also incredible.”
Rap sheets don’t come more impressive than Reid’s at just 20 years old.
She is a four-time Murray league best-and-fairest winner and interleague representative at junior club Tongala, owns three best-and-fairest gongs at Kyabram and was runner-up for the 2022 Wellman Family Medal at 18.
This year alone, Reid earned selection to the GVL interleague side and capped the season with a GVL A-grade MVP gong.
Warnock knows how good a player she has on her hands ― in fact, she laughed when admitting to studying Reid’s game and using it as a yardstick for her own midcourters.
“I actually used her as an example for our players last year when defending on the circle, so now it’s really exciting to have her on our team,” she said.
“Hollie will be an amazing addition and, obviously, it will make our midcourt so much stronger and stronger as a team. I think having Hollie will make such a difference next season.
“The ultimate goal is to go one further and get that premiership, but we’re all excited just to hit the court again and be back together.”
Exorcising the grand final demons after September’s four-goal defeat to Echuca is on Warnock’s hit list for 2024.
She won’t be alone in her pursuit, either.
Euroa has welcomed back all players from this year’s charge bar Grace Warnock, who is not a definite out at this point in time, and there’s another in Olivia Morris who returns in total capacity next year.
A nasty compound ankle fracture ruled out Morris’ season in round four, but Warnock expects her to add another dynamic to the Magpies’ already-scorching attacking end.
“She’s an incredible goaler who’s also playing in the VNL under-23s for Boroondara,” Warnock said.
“Having her back in the circle with Mia will provide such a seamless transition from midcourt to the goal circle.
“So adding her and Hollie to our attack end is huge in itself.”
Rounding out the list of recruits is Euroa local, Emilia Mercuri, from Shepparton Swans.
Warnock mentored Mercuri years ago and smiled at the thought of taking the teenager under her wing again.
“I coached Emilia in interleague in under-17s and I’ve sort of been spying on her ever since. Finally she decided to come back to us,” she said.
“She’s a young gun; I’m really excited to develop her and her senior netball skills.
“She’ll definitely play a role in our A-grade and will be an added defender, so we’re really keen to have her on board.”
With all the signing news, Warnock’s recommitment may have flown under the radar ― but it shouldn’t.
The 2023 grand final coach has “unfinished business” left to deal with and, despite living on the other side of Melbourne, has pledged to deliver success to Euroa next year.
“I feel like I kind of owe it to the girls to go around again ... but it’s not even about that, I just love the club,” she said.
“I still live in Geelong and I’m still travelling three and a half hours to get to games sometimes, but I just love it.
“It’s not even just about the A-grade team either. Our goal next year is to be strong and improve across all grades and hopefully we can do that.”
Sports Journalist