Netball
10 April, 2026
HDFNL 2026 preview: Tigers ready to rise
Struggles with injury and consistency plagued the Pimpinio A grade netball side, who otherwise showed flashes of potential in 2025. But the return of former Tigers and another year of growth have the team poised to move up the ladder.
Coach Lana Ellis believes last season provided many lessons for the young side.
“We were just hit by injury, and we had about five players out by the end of the year with injuries,” she said.
“We just managed and tried to focus on ourselves on what we could develop, rather than putting too much pressure on the girls.
“Being a young playing group, it’s a big mental game to keep them up and about, going against bigger, more experienced girls.
“At some points, we were actually shocking opposition teams by sticking with them, but we just couldn’t hold it together for a whole four quarters.”
After a couple of years away from the side, Rupanyup premiership player Victoria Taylor and previous league junior best and fairest winner Tahlia Thompson return to the team.
As well as the addition of Keely Pope from the Horsham Demons, Ellis is excited by the ability the recruits bring to the side.
“We are very happy and excited about having Tahlia and Victoria back in the side,” she said.
“They’ve been away from Pimpinio for a few years.
“To have Keely come in as well, she’s just a breath of fresh air through the midcourt.
“She is very dynamic and will positively change how we look in the middle of the court.”
With some exits to the team, including Jayde Ellis, who will coach the Swifts, the Pimpinio coach believes it is an opportunity for the younger players to grow their games.
“It is a very different side to what it was last year, but some of those younger girls from last year get to step up and play again,” Ellis said.
“We’ve got one of our young gun junior players, Ruby Williams, stepping up.
“She just shone in the few games she played last year, so we've put the pressure on her to have a crack at it, and she's going to be an excellent netballer.”
Ellis is realistic in expectations for the side, but believes the talent is there for them to compete for a finals spot.
“I think we can be a fair bit more competitive this year,’ she said.
“Every team has the one big goal, but I don’t want to be stupid or unrealistic and put too much pressure on the girls.
“I’d like to push towards finals, and with the potential these girls have, I think it’s an achievable goal.”