By Josh Ward.
There was plenty of improvement from the Nunawading men’s side whilst the women’s came agonisingly close yet again to a finals appearance.
Senior Men’s (Division Four)
Ladder Position: 6th (2-14, 50.85%)
Leading Goalkicker: Konrad Bendrups (30 goals in 15 matches)
Summary:
Whilst it was another hard-fought year in Division Four for Nunawading there were still plenty of signs of improvement following the return of Frank Salanitri.
The first half of the season saw them be competitive, picking up two wins against wooden spooners Croydon North MLOC, breaking the 100 point barrier against eventual premiers Surrey Park in a 50 point loss whilst also losing just one game by 100+ points.
Continuing to be competitive in the middle third of the season, they eventually started to slow down as the season came to close before ending 2023 with a competitive performance against Chirnside Park.
Key Players:
Many of their new signings shone for the Lions, including forward Konrad Bendrups. One of many to have signed on from Salanitri’s former side in Manningham, his 30 goals saw him rewarded with a Team of the Year selection.
Ex-Box Hill North mid Peter Cassidy-Marsh was also rewarded for his strong season with a Team of the Year selection. Jack Wensley also played a key role, particularly at the start of the season, alongside Jacob Virtue.
Best Win: Round 2 – Nunawading 13.16.94 defeated Croydon North MLOC 10.18.78
In the second round of the season the Lions were able to break a near 650-day winless drought as well as a 1,300+ day home win drought against the KangaRams.
After a tight first half Nunawading broke the game open in the third, kicking six goals to four before hanging on in the final quarter at Koonung Reserve.
Kane Maghamez starred with four goals and was well supported by many of his teammates, including Bendrups. Jack Wensley’s strong start to the season continued with a second Best on Ground performance for them.
Off-Season Focus:
Stability is the key now for the Lions as they look to build on a season where many players continued to improve for them.
The re-signing of Salanitri as well as many of their key players such as Bendrups and Wensley helps, but they’ll be without Cassidy-Marsh who’s moved on to Chirnside Park.
If they’re able to keep their core players for next season and add a bit more talent then it’ll go a long way to ensuring the upward trajectory of the Lions men side continues.
Senior Women’s (Division Four)
Ladder Position: 5th (6-5, 114.29%)
Leading Goalkicker: Emily Whalan (11 goals in 10 games)
Summary:
It was another case of being so close and yet so far for the Lions women side who fell only 13 percent short of a first finals appearance in only their second year.
With one win in grading Trevor Haig’s side then got to work to start the Division Four season. Winning their first three games, they then started to drop off with three consecutive losses against eventual finalists.
It was an up and down ending to the season, going win/loss in the final five rounds. By season’s end they would finish with two more wins than their inaugural season but still being kept out of finals by Fairpark
Key Players:
Laura Demarte was stellar in midfield for the second consecutive year, falling just two votes off eventual Division 4 Best and Fairest winner Nicole Akers.
Team of the Year members Miranda Marshall and Emily Whalan were also strong in defence and midfield, with Whalan ending up as the Lions leading goalkicker. Brydee Oakman also had a solid first season after coming across from Ferntree Gully.
Best Win: Round 9 – Nunawading 4.10.34 defeated Fairpark 4.4.28
Needing a win to keep their finals chance alive, Nunawading got exactly that against their fellow Lions from Fairpark.
Trailing by one point at the final break despite a fast start, they then kicked the only goal in the term whilst restricting the visitors to two behinds to see them over the line by one straight kick.
Alana Mawby was the star of the show up forward this time around with two goals. Whalan and Miranda Farago also got on the score sheet whilst Oakman starred in a BOG performance.
Off-Season Focus:
Much like the men’s side the key for the women’s will be to gain just a little bit more experience and also retain the majority of their list for 2024.
Whilst no re-signings have been announced as of yet they were able to retain as well as gain players well ahead of this past season, which should see them in good stead.
The only way is up for Trevor Haig’s side who, no matter what Division they’re in, will be competitive and determined to go one step further than their first two seasons.
Netball Recap
The Lions had three teams in 2023 that competed in the Bendigo Bank Netball Competition: Nunawading Lions Gold, Nunawading Lions Black & Nunawading Lions Maroon.
After winning the Division 4 premiership in 2022 the Gold side were a competitive force in Division 3, falling just one win short of a finals appearance. Rebecca Lawson and Melanie Van Zuyden were the main targets in the circle, scoring a combined 402 goals.
Starting the season in Division 7, Black then eventually dropped down to Division 8 where they were much more competitive but still falling two games short of finals in fifth. Elizabeth Demarte led the way with 149 goals in the Lions return to Division 8.
Nunawading Maroon though were the most successful side. Finishing in fourth by two and a half games ahead of Montrose Raptors, the Lions would then go down in what would be their only final to Chirnside Park Black by just one goal.
