Phillip Island Football Netball Club’s (PIFNC) 2022 season got off to a great start at a practice match against Moe last Saturday (albeit with a few absentees on the day courtesy of the Covid virus).

Peter Chaston, PIFNC netball manager, said training had been underway since early February.

“It’s been a really positive start to this year, and all eight sides in the West Gippsland League competition have been filled.”

An additional two junior teams will play in the Cranbourne Saturday competition as well, Peter said.

Peter said quite a few junior team players have moved up into the senior sides this year, which augurs well for the club’s future.

The club’s volunteer coaches are working well with their teams, with the view that Phillip Island will be a strong contender in all grades to make the finals come September.

The club works hard during the year to raise funds to field the teams each week, and Peter said he is always looking for volunteers to help run the breakfast barbeque that is held courtside at every Saturday home game.

If you can spare a few hours on Saturday from about 8.30am, he would love to hear from you.

The barbeque is sited so that the workers also get a very good view of the games as they get underway.

A new digital scoreboard will be in place this year, which is a pleasing addition to the club’s fixtures.

The start of the WGFNL competition kicks off this Saturday at Cora Lyn against Cora Lyn, with the traditional Easter Saturday matches against Kilcunda Bass back on Easter Saturday at the Phillip Island ground.

Netball coaches for this year are: A Grade Kristy Edwards, B Grade Maddy Taylor and Amber Formosa, C Grade Jodie Ross, D Grade Loz Lees, Under 17 Abby McCaughan, Under 15 Cath Huther, Under 13 Anna Mewett and Under 11 Kristy Santorini.