THE BENDIGO Football Netball League and region will have one of its strongest ever representations in this season's Victorian Netball League competition.
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A massive contingent of 17 players with ties to the region, spread across six of the league's 10 teams, includes a mix of established VNL players and some exciting newcomers to the league.
Among the newcomers are former New South Wales Swifts goal shooter/goal attack Mikaela Vaughan and former Collingwood Magpies training partner Kelsie Rainbow, who have signed with BFNL club Castlemaine, which is this season fielding an A-grade team for the first time since 2017.
The pair is signed with Melbourne University Lightning, where they will play alongside Gisborne star Maddy Stewart, classy young Kyneton goal attack Clare Oakley and another exciting newcomer to the BFNL Claudia Mawson.
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The pair is signed with Melbourne University Lightning, where they will play alongside Gisborne star Maddy Stewart, classy young Kyneton goal attack Clare Oakley and another exciting newcomer to the BFNL Claudia Mawson.
Originally from Echuca, Mawson - a goal attack - has committed to playing with Gisborne in 2022, with the Bulldogs hunting for only their second BFNL A-grade premiership and first since 2013.
All five Lightning players, including Stewart - the club's games record holder after passing the 150-game milestone last season - played with Melbourne University last season.
Another BNFL newcomer, South Bendigo's Chloe Gray will line-up with Southern Saints.
It will be a fresh start in the VNL for the versatile wing attack and goal attack, who previously played with Casey Demons.
Gray has made her way to South Bendigo after playing with Riddell District league club Wallan during 2021.
As is often the case, Boroondara Express will again boast a strong Bendigo flavour, with Kangaroo Flat's Chelsea Sartori and Abbey Ryan and brilliant Sandhurst defender Sophie Shoebridge again part of the open squad.
They will be joined this season by former Kangaroo Flat premiership star Ruby Barkmeyer, who has remained a part of the Melbourne Vixens squad for 2022 as a development player.
Star Roos misdcourter Sartori will enter the VNL season as the reigning division one MVP following a runaway win in last year's award, while a brilliant 2021 for Shoebridge was capped by a win in the Dragons' best and fairest award.
A newcomer to the Express and at VNL level, North Central aligned Ella Harvey. from the Deniliquin Netball Association, has signed to play under-19s.
A newcomer to the Express and at VNL level, North Central region aligned Ella Harvey. from the Deniliquin Netball Association, has signed to play under-19s.
Regulars at the North East Blaze in recent seasons, Sandhurst pair Ruby Turner and Meg Williams are back on board for 2022.
VNL duties will add to a long list of commitments this year for Turner, who has been selected in the national under-19 squad.
Familiar faces at City West Falcons, Zoe Davies and young South Bendigo goal shooter Chloe Langley will again don the red, white and blue.
Davies, best on court in the Falcons' championship win in 2018, will play her country league netball at Shepparton United this season, while Langley is playing on with the Bloods after notching up her second straight club best and fairest award in 2021.
Talented Gisborne midcourter Kiralee Collings will line-up for the Falcons' under-19 team.
A strong Gisborne VNL contingent includes goal shooter Clare Vearing, who is again playing for Peninsula Waves.
Vearing, a BFNL representative in 2019, previously won back-to-back club MVP awards while paying for the Express in 2018 and 2019.
The first of 18 rounds this season will be played on Wednesday, March 16, with the grand final on Wednesday, August 10.
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VNL signings
Boroondara Express: Ruby Barkmeyer, Abbey Ryan, Chelsea Sartori, Sophie Shoebridge (open squad); Ella Harvey (under-19).
City West Falcons: Zoe Davies, Chloe Langley (open squad); Kiralee Collings (under-19).
Melbourne University Lightning: Claudia Mawson, Claire Oakley, Kelsie Rainbow, Maddy Stewart, Mikaela Vaughan (open squad).
North East Blaze: Ruby Turner; Meg Williams (open squad).
Peninsula Waves: Clare Vearing (open squad).
Southern Saints: Chloe Gray (open squad).
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