Over the course of the last couple of years, several associations have seen a need to rebuild their women’s programs and do so via building through their Youth Women’s team. This has sadly seen a drop in some of the entries in Senior Women’s competitions in the short term, intending to rebuild via their respective youth teams.
At the Annual Commission Meeting (ACM) in 2023, a combined Division 1 and 2 was proposed to association delegates for the Senior Women’s competition. In doing so, all competing teams would play each other once leading into the King’s Birthday long weekend, before separating into two separate - Divisions of 1 & 2, where they’ll play each team in their respective division a further time. Big V will then hold separate Division 1 and Division 2 finals.
This position was taken for several reasons. We know there has been a substantial gulf in recent seasons from the top of the ladder to lower-placed teams in each of the two divisions. This innovative structure allows the strongest to shine, before moving into their own division, whilst providing Division 2 teams a chance to finish the backend of their season on a positive note. This structure has been implemented acting as a temporary measure as we allow time for associations to rebuild and re-enter their senior teams in the seasons ahead.
With all clubs being made aware at the ACM of the change of 2024, it provided each club, the previous Division 2 clubs in particular equal opportunity in recruiting and development for the off-season.
We also had feedback from players that they enjoyed having a bye weekend or two during the season. We’ve enabled a division-wide bye to occur following King’s Birthday weekend, to allow re-fixturing to occur, but we’ve endeavoured to create windows whereby a bye weekend is opened up for teams in this competition.
Promoted up from Division1 after the 2023 season: Warrnambool and Bellarine
Longtime power of Division 1 Women’s competition Warrnambool has been promoted to the Championship division after taking out the 2023 title, and let’s not forget both the 2022 and 2018 titles. Did we fail to mention the 5 titles in 8 years between 2005-2012? Yes, the Warrnambool history is a winning one!
Likewise, in the Big V strategy to rebuild the Championship Women’s competition, Bellarine Storm have been promoted to Championship. With a 13-5 record, at 116% and only a 6-point Grand Final loss, Bellarine are well placed to attack the next level.
So the question going into the 2024 season is; “Who is ready to take the mantle for Division 1?”
The first look would be to the next best regular season team of 2023 - Mildura. However, coach Travis Coombes takes over the reins from long-time mentor of the Heat James Madigan. With the change, looks like a new direction in 2024 with many new faces ready to face the challenge of Big V competition.
But it was the Steelers of Western Port that convincingly knocked Mildura from the playoffs in 2023 and they appear to have kept a core group with long-time champions of Big V competition Rachel Winters, Rachael Wansborough and Jenna McCormick all returning for the 2024 season. The Steelers finished the season the right way, coming from 5th they took out two elimination final wins before bowing out to Bellarine in the Preliminary Final. You’d think they are well-placed to make an impact.
Word on the street is that a surprise might be in store! Let us share the surprise! Warrandyte have taken some scalps in practice games against higher-ranked opponents. On the back of a 4-14 season finishing bottom of the Division 1 ladder, could they be the big beneficiary from a new look competition in 2024? Why have one O’Nial sister, when you can have both, with Maddie reuniting with her sister Emmie at Warrandyte from Melbourne Uni. That is a combination of 26 points and 27 rebounds per game based on 2023 stats! Then you have the addition of the length and athleticism of Eilish Feehan from Camberwell and the tall and strong Jacinta Vandenberg joining from Kilsyth NBL1 South and we’re starting to have the pieces of a contender! Another key piece of the Melbourne University outfit in Isabella Renton has also made the move, whilst the long-time and reliable guard Ellie Locke will look to lead the group from the point. The Venom have formed a tough, all-Australian outfit under the leadership of Paul O’Brien.
So, with some big pieces moving out of Melbourne Uni, naturally, there look to be some handy inclusions. Coming out of the NBL1 with Nunawading, Katie Harrington, alongside Emma Schmidtke from the 2023 Bulleen Championship winning team. Depth looks to have been an issue in 2023, and Coach Keith Noack looks to have gone some way to rectifying that, with a spread of youth and experience throughout the group.
Down at Hobsons Bay, are the Altona Gators led once again by Randy Shanklin. Operating maybe a little off-Broadway, Altona have been quietly going about developing and moving players out of the VYCW team and into Division 1 to complement a well-established senior group. Whilst an 8-10 record in 2023 isn’t demanding title favouritism, the playing list is certainly headed in the right direction and you can see the makings of something building down by the bay. Maybe 2024 is the year that things click and the Gators make their move toward the top!
Coming out of the former Division 2 are 2023 Runners-up Wallan. Whilst there have been some changes, firstly with their former Youth Men’s Coach Jarrod Bridge now taking the reins and a few retirements, Wallan have a strong core of local and loyal players to the program and are confident their crew will more than hold their own amongst the previous Division 1 teams. With a couple of new recruits such as Molly Young from Craigieburn, maybe Bridge and his crew could create some upsets.
The experienced Simon Hickey returns to head up the Blackburn Vikings in 2024. The Vikings have gone big with a well-known American recruit, Makenzie Miller joining the Vikes! Miller was a part of the 2023 Division 2 championship-winning Gippsland United team, having also previously played at the North-East Bushrangers. Alongside trusty Blackburn servants such as Rebecca Cunningham, could Miller and a couple of other sneaky recruits help elevate Blackburn amongst the former Division 1 teams? Don’t be surprised to see some positive results at Mullum Mullum in 2024.
This competition is wide open. The bottom of Division 1 looks to have strengthened, several of the Division 2 teams have seen the combined competition as an opportunity and have stocked up, and it leaves more than a couple of teams thinking there’ll be a chance at taking out the Division 1 title and promotion to Championship for 2025!
Remember, they all play each other once before the split occurs into Division 1 and 2, so every game from opening night counts!
