THEY made last year’s grand final with a developing side and now, with a new season on the doorstep, Bathurst City are out to go one better in women’s Premier League Hockey.
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While the team are excited about Saturday’s grand final rematch with the Lithgow Panthers, there are still 17 rounds of hockey to follow.
After their hot run of results across the competition, Bathurst City were under pressure to maintain that form last year with a more youthful line-up.
Not only did they do that, but they have retained almost their entire squad in their quest to make another decider.
Senior team member Casey Bayliss said the team are excited to get the season underway.
“We’ve seen everyone enthusiastic to get going across both the men’s and women’s teams,” she said.
“Having the men there as well means it’s shaping up to be a good year.
“We’ve had great numbers in the juniors right through to Premier League.”
The biggest changes for City are occurring in the coaching department as Lisa Quinn returns to the competition after a year away and Phil Baker joins as assistant coach.
“Lisa’s fantastic. She knows the game well and has coached at a high level before. She’s doing a fine job. She doesn’t want to be a coach so much on game day. A player-coach, or whatever you want to call it, doesn’t work and she was the first person to tell us that,” Bayliss said.
“Because of that we’ve also got Phil Baker there as more of the game-day coach.”
Bathurst City have players at either end of the spectrum – those proven after many years of Premier League experience and those looking to make this season the one in which they break through.
“We’ve got myself, Kelsey Willott and Jess Hotham there and Red [Andrea Seymour] is back to play for us,” Bayliss said.
“Lisa’s back after having her baby and Brooke McFadden from Lithgow, who’s now living in Bathurst, is going to be a big asset for us.
“I’m excited about Kelly Baker. With Tanya Lowe not playing, that leaves a big hole in centre half. We’ll be sharing that role around, but we’re hoping to have Kelly as the primary person there – a core of the future you could say.
“Last year a lot of the younger players stepped up. A lot of people said we couldn’t do it with a younger team, but we still managed to make the grand final.
“That showed that the young guys could deliver. This year is now about developing them to the next level.
“As they say, you’re only as strong as your weakest player.”
City will have the bye after they open their campaign against the Panthers away.
Following the bye will be further away matches to Dubbo Blue Jays and Orange Ex-Services.
