TERANG Mortlake coach Liz Fowler has been utilising the opening weeks of pre-season training for team bonding following some handy inclusions and big departures.
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The Bloods have welcomed former Hamilton Kangaroos utility Rhiannon Davis and North Warrnambool Eagles midcourter Laura Ritchie to their ranks for 2021.
Fowler said she was excited by the pair, who had joined the club through affiliations with current players.
Captain Aimee Moloney (pregnant), Melissa Burt (overseas), Jessica Davis (baby), Lisa Anders (Nirranda) and Libby Moloney (GFL) have all departed.
Emerging stars Alice Tanner and Sophie Lehmann are preparing to make the step up into the top grades.
May Suhan, Grace Wareham, Maddie Cheshire (17 and under), Alice Suhan and Ava Grundy (15 and under) will also get opportunities to develop at senior level.
Fowler, who is preparing for her first season at the helm, said she was focusing on two areas at training.
"We have had a few get togethers now since mid-January and we have started our pre-season training and picked up a few new recruits, which is exciting," she said.
"We have just been doing fitness and a bit of team bonding with a few new faces around and getting everyone used to each other.
"At this stage we have picked two squads, an open and division one squad and division two and three squad. We do a bit of the sessions all together at training and then break into the two squads."
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"That has certainly been the case and everyone has had good energy, we have had good numbers and everyone is keen to get back on the track," she said.
"There has been around 20-plus players at training (on Thursday nights). That is decent for this time of year with conflicting sports.
"I think everyone is keen to play this year after having most of the year off last year and the young girls are keen to get back out there."
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The first-year mentor said the side would get some handy game time with some practice matches fast approaching.
The Bloods will play Warrnambool and District league clubs Panmure and Nirranda. They will also face Hampden leagues rivals Camperdown, which is their round one opponent on April 10, and Geelong in a round-robin format.
Fowler said her playing squad was injury free. "We've got a really good list and all going well," she said.
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