Under-23 Cougars look to go one better

THE Geelong Cougars will bring a similar attack into the 2026 VNL under-23 competition.

The team is looking to avenge last season’s grand final loss, while a big name signing in their top side may be the change to elevate them to finals contention.

The Cougars announced a 12-woman squad in February ahead of their season opener this month, with 10 returning players and two fresh faces.

Mia Aitken, Eliza Dunell, Georgia Howell, Mimi Lockwood, Maddie Mickovski, Indi O’Connor, Monique Parker, Lulu Shaw, Zoey Shaw and Keeley Smith will all take the court once again after featuring last season.

Meanwhile, Newtown & Chilwell’s Eliza Hannagan and Geelong Amateur’s Eliza Oxley join the squad for the first time.

Mel Savage will take the reins again as head coach, and had big wraps for both Hannagan and Oxley.

“[Oxley is a] strong goal shooter originally from Bendigo,” she said.

“She’s learnt a lot throughout pre-season and is going to be very difficult for defenders to match up on.

“[Hannagan is a] goal and wing defence and is an incredible athlete whose first ball pressure and presence is great.

“She’s got wonderful speed and smarts across the defensive line.”

The Cougars will look to build on a dream finish to their 2025 campaign that saw them finish fifth and knock off the first and fourth-ranked sides to reach the grand final.

Savage said her side’s effort spoke volumes of the talent, which puts them in good stead to go one better in 2026.

“This group believes in their own ability and we have incredible versatility which presents a problem for the opposition.

“The depth and talent means that they continue to push each other at training and games to be their best.

“Our focus is on being consistent in 2026 and really capitalising on moments in games where we have an opportunity to increase a lead.”

Meanwhile, the senior side is looking to have an improved season after finishing ninth in 2025.

Collecting just four wins across the 18-game season, Savage is hoping to see the side return to finals form.

“We’re incredibly disappointed as a club about the performance of our championship group last year, and we’re not hiding that,” Savage said.

“We do have new players but our expectations of this group, we know what they can do, now it’s looking for that consistency on court throughout games, not just in little glimpses.”

Carly Sanders has been promoted from training partner to the main squad, while three new players enter the cohort.

Alex Booker (Melbourne University Lightning) and Steph Boyce (East Geelong) will both make their Cougars debuts this season.

Perhaps the club’s biggest signing is Mel Bragg, who returns to netball after playing four seasons in the AFLW with the Geelong Cats.

The former Super Netball defender will bring a welcome injection of elite experience to the squad.

Savage said her return to netball has already lifted the squad.

“You watch her at training and the girls are just in awe about her and the way she goes about her business.

“She demands that excellence from everyone around her, it was a credit to her about what she’s done in our program in the past six months that her peers voted her co-captain.”

The Cougars will get a chance at revenge first up, with their season opener coming against the Melbourne University Lightning – the team that beat them in August’s grand final.

Round 1 will begin on Wednesday, 11 March, with matches to be played weekly until mid-July from then on.

TAHLIA SINCLAIR