Mooroopna’s top Cat signs on, while Picola District league clubs announce new coaches

It's early in the week, so let's start with the good.

Cats coach Di Hanslow has signed on the dotted line for another season, her fourth year in charge.

Hanslow has been an integral part of Mooroopna’s recent A-grade dominance and is desperate to lead the Cats to a premiership.

While one key Cats figure remains at Mooroopna in 2025, another is set to depart.

Gun centre Mia Fallon has returned to Bellarine Netball League to join Drysdale.

Fallon was selected in the Bellarine Netball League Team of the Year in 2021 during her time at Geelong Ammos.

Fallon also finished second in the 2024 Wellman Medal count behind Shepparton’s Kim Borger and tied for Mooroopna’s best-and-fairest award this season with Dayna Williams.

Meanwhile, Shepparton United is thrilled to have signed shooter Abby Gilmore from Riddell District Netball League side Woodend-Hesket, where she won back-to-back A-grade flags.

New Demons coach Shinea Sali said she couldn’t wait to see Gilmore make an impact on the court in 2025.

“(Gilmore) is a shooter, nice and tall, strong and athletic, which is something I was looking for next season in our team,” Sali said.

“We needed a presence on the court down there and she really fitted the brief perfectly.

“I took a chance on her and it has paid off.”

United has been busy during the off-season, with the Demons already two weeks into their pre-season.

Sali said there had been two other inclusions to the Demons’ 2025 A-grade side.

“We have Montanna Burke, she is a young gun that has come across from Shepp Bears in the midcourt,” she said.

“We also have Taylah Lloyd (from Mooroopna) who has committed for 2025 as well, she has been around in the GVL for a little bit also.

“The rest of us are from last season, so we are building on the talent that we had and bringing it all together.”

In Picola District league netball news, Strathmerton has announced a new A-grade coach for next season.

Loreena Keane will lead the Bulldogs’ A-grade side having coached the under-17 side in 2024.

Strathmerton went on a deep finals charge last season, despite finishing in sixth place, the Bulldogs won their elimination and semi-final matches before losing to Katunga in the preliminary final.

Katandra — which lost to Strathmerton in the semi-final — has also announced a new A-grade coach for 2025.

Jo Moroney will lead the Kats as head coach next season.

Moroney’s experience includes coaching Shepparton and Shepparton Swans in Goulburn Valley League.

Finally, Murchison-Toolamba has locked in gun midcourter Emily Wood as its senior leader for 2025.

Wood won the club’s A-grade best-and-fairest in 2023 and finished runner-up in 2024.