PORTLAND enters the 2022 Hampden Netball League open grade season under joint coaches – Michelle Finck and Remy Grant – with the Tigers to travel to Warrnambool for Saturday’s opening round.

Finck, who led the Tigers at the top grade in 2016 and 2017, will coach from the sidelines while Grant, last year’s club best and fairest, will provide the on-court drive.

They take the reins from long-time mentor Lauren Hockley, with the star goalie to continue on as a player.

“Lauren’s experience is just too valuable for us to lose, so yes she will be going again,” Finck said.

As with every season there are ins and outs, with Karina Thorpe heading back to Heywood, while Steph Arnott is returning.

“Steph will come back through division one to start with as she gets back into the swing of it, but certainly I can see that she could be playing some open grade netball.

“We have picked a combined open and division one squad, and that will see some movement of players between the two grades, especially early in the season.”

Expect to see the likes of young players such as Tyleah Barr blooded into the open team, while Makaila Pitt crosses from Kalangadoo where she was able to get a full season in during 2021, and goalie Jess Cook will be a regular after playing just a few games last season.

It may take the Tigers some time to settle into their rhythm, with COVID isolations during the preseason making it tougher to prepare, however Finck is happy with how the club is tracking.

“Our division two side qualified for finals last season so we expect them to be strong again, and we like to use division three team for our junior players to get a taste of open age netball, so we will be doing that again.

“What we will be doing this season is focussing a bit more on defence.

“We know we can score enough goals but we need to win some more balls back, so we will be focussing on the defensive efforts a lot.”

Portland’s coaches for season 2022 are:

Open: Michelle Finck and Remy Grant

Division One: Michelle Finck and Jacci Piergrosse

Division Two: Nancy Grant

Division Three: Jody Duckworth

17-And-Under: Hannah Bunney

15-And-Under: Lauren Hockley

13-And-Under: Anna Impey