Reigning Warriors a test for new-look Jets

After weeks of postponements, the ECU Souwest Jets will finally have a chance to start their new era with the WA Netball League to kick off this weekend. During the recent COVID-19 round of restrictions, Netball WA called off all indoor netball matches and training until last weekend when the State Government announced masks would no longer be required. While the Jets and the rest of the WANL clubs would be rejoicing at the competition’s return for 2021, the Jets will certainly have a challenge ahead of them when they take on reigning premiers West Coast Warriors at Eaton Recreation Centre. The Warriors have won the last four meetings with the Jets and have gone on to win the WANL grand final back-to-back in 2019 and 2020. Their most recent match-up was held at Eaton Recreation Centre during round 11 of the 2020 season, when the Warriors led from the outset to defeat the Jets 89-62. After several seasons with Erin Culnane at the helm, the Jets will begin a new era with new head coach Karly Guadagnin and assistant coach Cherie Farnan in the cockpit. The Jets’ open side has also relocated to a new “hangar” in Perth for training purposes and welcomed several fresh faces to the squad. Among the newcomers were Ruth Aryang, younger sister of West Coast Fever star Sunday Aryang, along with Ella Eastaugh, Brianna Newnham, Brooke O’Connor and new skipper Cassie Farquhar-Reid. Joining Farquhar-Reid in the Jets’ leadership group were fellow newcomers Eastaugh and O’Connor, along with Brooke Gibson and Riley Culnane. Shantelle Tassone and Simone Dalkin have signed on as training partners. Charlie Allen, Maia Bratton, Sarah Leitch, Serena Nandapi and Victorian recruit Hannah Kuhar left the Jets during the off-season, while retiree Lisa Millman remains at the club in an under-20s co-coaching role alongside Myrna Carbone.