With the renegade signing blitz in effect over the football netball lull, round ball talents have been engaged with securing new homes for the 2026 campaign.
This season’s Murray Netball League grand final runner-up, Nathalia, is doubling down on its mission to go one further with a pair of astute signings.
Former Tatura playing co-coach Stephanie Smith-Gorrie has committed to the Purples powerhouse, bringing with her years of Goulburn Valley League experience at the Bulldogs and Shepparton.
The classy goal attack also spent a number of years in the Victorian Netball League with Boroondara Express.
Joining her in new threads is Ash Cullen.
An adroit defender, Cullen is a past coach of Lockington-Bamawm and has a similar career trajectory to Smith-Gorrie having playing for Boroondara in the VNL as well as stints at Shepparton.
Another MNL club looking to bolster its ranks with GVL talent is Tongala, which has scooped up young starlet Abby Waasdorp from Kyabram.
A former Blue, Waasdorp returns to her former club following consecutive best-and-fairest runner-up finishes in the Bombers’ A-grade count.
It comes as Tongala looks to replace the outgoing best-and-fairest winner Chelsey Wright, who has gone back to Moama.
‘Tis the season of homecomings in the Kyabram District League, too.
Ex-Tallygaroopna shooter Tamara Skinner has been announced as the Redlegs’ co-coach for 2026, marking another gun talent departing the Kyabram stable.
Skinner re-joins the club she first played for as a 15-year-old in 2002, with her peak season arriving in 2014 where she won the MNL premiership and league best-and-fairest with Numurkah.
On the VNL front, Bendigo Strikers has signed a plethora of Goulburn Valley gems for its 2026 reserves squad.
Jinaya Nurse (Mooroopna/Stanhope), Rose Byrne (Echuca), Indi Phillips (Moama), Gabby Moore (Shepparton Swans) and Bridie Kelly (Mooroopna) will elevate their games at the Strikers.
Meanwhile, a Shepparton wiz has departed the Strikers to join a fellow VNL rival.
McKenzie O'Dwyer was revealed as a North East Blaze recruit earlier this month, with the mercurial midcourter joining Seymour product Ella Tennant at the Banyule-based franchise.
Finally, Shepparton premiership coach Kim Borger will continue playing for Western Warriors while coaching the Melton club’s 23-and-under side.
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