Team of the Year defender makes move to Herne Hill

ONE of the Barwon region’s elite netball defenders is on the move, joining forces with one of the Geelong Netball League’s (GNL) top contenders for this season’s premiership.

St Joseph’s has obtained the services of Geelong Cougar and Melbourne Mavericks training partner Brooke Allan ahead of the 2024 season.

Fresh off back-to-back GNL premierships in 2022 and 2023 with childhood club Colac, Allan said Joey’s proximity to her residence, the personnel in the team, and the club’s newly signed A Grade coach all led to her decision to move to Herne Hill Reserve.

“I was kind of toying up not playing at all this season, just for something different, and I’m down in Melbourne a lot more with

Mavericks now, so it was just a matter of if I thought my body was going to handle it,” Allan said.

“Colac’s obviously given me so much. I’ve been there since a junior, but it was getting a bit hard down that highway once or twice a week.

“I also have a few friends at Joeys that I play Cougars with and it just kind of fit everything I was looking for.”

Allan said she had considered making a potential move to Geelong Amateur led by Melanie Savage, but it never reached a serious level of interest.

New Joeys head coach Riley Richardson, announced late last year, has assembled a premiership calibre side for 2024, most of whom are returning players including Victoria Honner, Emily Kingston, Elli Leydin and league best-and-fairest Emma Buwalda.

Allan said she was particularly excited to join ex-Cougars teammate Honner in the defensive third again.

“Both Tori and Emily were a big reason for my move. I saw them last weekend and it was almost like me moving to Joeys was always in the plan for them.

“It was a bit of a no-brainer to come across and play with Tori again and I hope she likes playing with me this season.”

Joeys first clash of the season will take place in St Albans against the Supersaints on April 13.

Allan’s first opportunity to face her old side won’t come until Round 11 in Colac.