The full complement of Mariners NPL teams will be in action this weekend, with the Women’s and Girl’s teams joining the fray as their campaigns get off the mark on Easter Monday.
Dan Barrett’s first grade side and all grades will take on the newly named Northbridge Bulls, getting underway at 3pm on Monday and after bowing out in the first round of finals this year Barrett said that some changes and a young squad, making finals for the fifth straight year is the goal.
“We have a group of very young, very talented players that have come through our system and are blended with our best senior players to make up our senior program,” he said.
When the balance of the squad is more on the younger side it’s not known for sure what you will get, but it’s going to be exciting to see this team play.”
“Finals is always on our agenda and we will aim to at least make our fifth straight finals campaign.
“My main takeaway from last season was that it was time for personnel change,” Barrett added.
“We had a fantastic squad that was dismantled after the Covid interruption, and now I have literally torn the page out of the book and am looking for a fresh start with a fresh group of home-grown talent.”
Goal scoring ace Danielle Wise was a major departure for the group through last year, but Barrett is excited by the return of Emily Diaz to the team, and she will lead the line with Candace Phelan who also returns to the first-grade setup.
Barrett knows that Northbridge, last season’s champions, will be a tough test first up but is hoping that his side may be able to fly under the radar a little bit and unsettle the Bulls.
“I am excited to get going, there’s no better way to open our campaign than against last year’s champions and this year’s favourites,” Barrett said.
“Their squad hasn’t changed much so we know what to expect with an army of experience at W-League and NPL 1 level, but it’s the opposite for them.”
“We will largely be an unknown, we will be taking down a fresh new line up and we will definitely bring a different approach to the game.”
Meanwhile on the Men’s side, Nick Montgomery’s first grade side will kick off tonight in a massive top of the table battle against NWS Spirit.
Be sure to tune into that game from Christie Park live on npl.tv!
Central Coast Mariners NPL2 Women’s Fixtures | Cammeray Oval, Monday, 5th April
1st Grade: Northbridge Bulls v Central Coast Mariners – 3pm
Reserves: Northbridge Bulls v Central Coast Mariners – 1:05pm
U/17’s: Northbridge Bulls v Central Coast Mariners – 11:25am
U/15’s: Northbridge Bulls v Central Coast Mariners – 9:55am
U/14’s: Northbridge Bulls v Central Coast Mariners – 8:30am
NPLW Senior Squad: Kiera BAINSFAIR, Betsy BLACKWOOD, Gabrielle BLANCH, Kiah CARMODY, Emily DIAZ, Jordyn DRYSDALE, Rhiannon HINES, Ruby JONES, Kaitlin MURPHY, Candice PHELAN, Annalise RASMUSSEN, Elizabeth SHORTER, Iona SNAPE, Maddison VAN DIJK, Annalise BREWSTER, Kasey BOELHOWER, Rachel GLENDENNING, Sophie HOLLIDAY, Eloise JONES, Stephanie LUYT, Mia MCFARLANE, Caitlyn MCMAHON, Lily MCMAHON, Kyara O’BRIEN, Alyssa TOGO, Abbey VAN GEMET
Central Coast Mariners NPL2 Mens Fixtures | Christie Park, Saturday 3rd April
1st Grade: NWS Spirit v Central Coast Mariners – 7pm
U/20’s: NWS Spirit v Central Coast Mariners – 5pm
