SHE'S established herself as one of the premier defenders on the Heathcote District league netball court, and now Jodie Lake is putting her hand up to play football.
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But opposition goalers have not seen the last of the Leitchville-Gunbower goal keeper, who finished second behind Colbinabbin's Liz Cobbledick in last season's league medal count.
She plans to combine both sports.
Lake - a devout Collingwood fan - said she had always followed football, and with Echuca deciding to enter a team in the newly formed AFL Goulburn Murray and AFL Central Victoria League, the timing was right to have a crack at the sport.
The commitment will see her devote two nights a week training to each sport.
Meanwhile, after a season in which Leitchville-Gunbower finished fourth, Lake said she was looking forward to the Bombers' season opener against Colbinabbin on April 8.
"Pre-season has gone well, we've been getting good numbers since about the middle of January," she said.
"We have a few good juniors coming up this year, so we're really excited about filtering them through the senior ranks.
"We have two who are definitely A-grade material in Courtney West and Tahli Brereton."
The Bombers have lost former league best and fairest Lauren Dehne to retirement and the versatile Ange Slattery to Moama, while Abbey Dingwall has returned to her home club Pyramid Hill.
But the Bombers have gained Victoria Weaver from the Ballarat league and have a good core of players returning including Lake, Holman and midcourter Kim Hanna.
Lake said Weaver would add plenty of versatility to the Bombers line-up.
"She's a really good addition because we can slot her in anywhere we need, but she will probably play in goals I imagine," Lake said.
"She will be a really good support for Jordy Holman down the shooting end.
"That end of the court is looking good."
