Sunshine Coast Lightning headquarters is abuzz this week with pre-season preparations officially beginning and Head Coach Kylee Byrne is already pleased with how the team is coming together.
Forming bonds is an important first step for the group, who are focusing on gym and track conditioning sessions before they resume court training in the coming weeks.
“I am really, really excited just to see how the group can come together,” Byrne said.
“I’m happy with the mix of new faces, the youth we haven’t really had for awhile at Lightning and the experience of the core group who have been here since day one.
“There’s a nice mix and they are feeling their way around it all this week but there’s been some really positive interactions starting already.”
The 2022 side will mark the youngest Lightning lineup to take to the court, with the average age of 27.1 (marginally younger than the inaugural team who were 27.2 years of age on average).
The difference is starker in comparison to the 2021 team – who were 29.5 on average across the squad of ten.
While the team is much younger there is still plenty of experience across the group with players like Tara Hinchliffe and Kadie-Ann Dehaney breaking into the Suncorp Super Netball league at a young age.
Emerging Queensland talent Reilley Batcheldor is another new face within the group, while former GIANTS Netball Training Partner Annie Miller is currently in quarantine, eager to join the training program shortly.
The refresh has brought with it a new vibe and sense of excitement, as they begin to settle into the new training program.
“There’s a sense of change but it’s such positive change,” she said.
“The more experienced players have to put their stamp on things and we will see what this new energy brings as well.”
