VNL goaler to give Cobras extra sting

BACCHUS Marsh has significantly bolstered its attacking stocks ahead of a key clash against Ballarat, signing VNL goal attack Chloe Eyre.

The young gun, a teammate of Cobras defender Georgia Shattock at VNL club Boroondara Express, is a member of the national First Nations team, the Black Swans.

She will don Bacchus Marsh’s red, yellow and black for the first time on Saturday against Ballarat at Alfredton Recreation Reserve.

The Cobras will go into the clash in seventh spot on the ladder at 3-3, two spots below the vastly improved Swans, who have moved to 3-2-1 off the back off three straight wins.

Bacchus Marsh coach Nichole Gleeeson is stoked to have landed the in-season signature of Eyre to complement her existing goaling tandem of Kim Phillips and last weekend’s BFNL 23-and-under representative Jasmine Paama.

“Chloe is an amazing pick-up for us … a great shooter … and she will be with us for the rest of the season,” she said.

“It’s going to give us plenty of flexibility in attack. Her shooting accuracy is through the roof.

“It will just be a matter of how the combinations unfold on game day, but she is going to be a real asset.

“VNL-wise, it’s great to have two VNL players in our side.”

Eyre, who played A-grade netball for Melton Centrals as a 15-year-old, last season played her country league netball with Macedon in the Riddell District league and has for the past two years made the list of Netball Victoria’s top-50 19-and-under players.

Having already played all of last season’s top three in Darley, North Ballarat (a two-goal loss) and most recently Sunbury, Gleeson is reasonably pleased with how the Cobras’ season is progressing.

She said a crucial three week block ahead against the Swans, Lake Wendouree and Sebastopol – all teams with aspirations of playing finals this season like the Cobras – would potentially shape their season.

“Adding in Chloe, I think we have a really strong nine players now,” Gleeson said.

“Georgia (Shattock) and Avana (Hobson) are killing it in defence and Chloe will really strengthen up our attack end.

“We really need to get a win on the board this week, heading into a game against Lakers.

“All three of our next opponents sit above us on the ladder, so we are going to need some wins to work our way up into the six.

“There’s no doubt these are the games we need to be winning.

“I feel our team is strong, but we are still new to each other a bit, losing the Keatings (Holly and Ally), but grabbing Georgia and Avana.

“We are plugging along nicely, hopefully it all comes together soon.”

The Cobras are coming of an 18-goal loss to Sunbury, while the Swans’ last game produced a 44-37 win over Melton, without the services of gun goal shooter Dakota Blade.