Leopold’s depth shines amid injury chaos

LEOPOLD A grade coach Kaela Hughes was thrilled with her team’s 55-36 victory against St Albans in GNL Round 9.

She explained the fifth-placed Lions had been hit with the injury bus in the past five weeks.

Olivia Muldoon is out for the season with an anterior cruciate ligament injury, Tessa Allen has injured her posterior cruciate ligament and captain Darcy Wilson (ankle) just returned from a four-week break.

Goal shooter Nat Heagney has a broken nose and had surgery while defenders Maggie Leahy and Breanna Heagney have been on holidays in Europe for a month.

It meant a host of Lions’ B graders stepped up against the Supersaints.

“So we have just been swamped down and out, but very lucky to have strength in our B grade girls and they came up and played against St Albans, which was super special for the club,” Hughes said.

“We had, I think, six former junior players play together in their first A-grade game. So that was really nice to see.”

 

Hughes said Leahy was set to return for the tomorrow’s (Saturday, June 28) home clash with Bell Park at 1.40pm.

The coach said the Lions’ were also planning to debut goaler Beyonce Plavi in Nat Heagney’s absence.

Plavi is from City West Falcons in the Victorian Netball League.

Leopold is working to solidify its top-five spot while the Dragon are eighth with a 3-5 record.

In other Round 10 matches, St Mary’s host St Albans, Grovedale welcome St Joseph’s, Newtown and Chilwell play Geelong West and South Barwon duel Lara.