Senior club profile: Nambucca Valley Lions

Image courtesy Brad Greenshields (Green Shoots Marketing)

We round out our series of Senior club profiles with this look at the Nambucca Valley Lions.

The Lions club comprises both Senior and Junior teams under the one banner and has been an absolute success story of the past five years. Commencing with just an Auskick Centre in 2016, it entered its first team in the Junior Competition the following year and has experienced continuous growth with new teams entered each season.

Read on to learn about the club’s plans for 2021.

HOW IS 2021 SHAPING UP? (Trent Baade, President)

The club is coming off a win last year in Reserves and this year we’re looking forward to putting a Senior side in the competition in 2021. We’ve retained the core of last year’s team and have added some experienced Senior players so the guys are excited for the year ahead.

We’re also putting together a Women’s team this season. There have been some real prospects throughout the pre-season which is exciting for our community. Local women are telling us they’re super keen to play and as we approach the kick off for the season it’s been great to see more and more numbers coming along.

MEN’S TEAM PROFILE

Coach: Leif Stuart (Head Coach), Jake Hare (Assistant Coach)

Leadership group: Aaron Boatfield, Alec Baldwin

Who are you expecting big things from?:

Jake Hare and Aaron Boatfield are the obvious choices after coming off the back of red hot seasons last year. Alec Baldwin coming home to the Valley from Sawtell will also be a massive boost for our club. One to watch will be Joey Mckay after his first season last year was a standout, will handle the step up in grades with ease and make an impact.

Big ins:

• Alec Baldwin (Sawtell Toormina Saints)
• Jarred Baldwin (Sawtell Toormina Saints)
• Hamish Bird (12 month break, from Sawtell Toormina Saints)

Big outs:

• Brad Doolan (return to Rugby League)
• Zane Doolan (return to Rugby League)
• Andrew Welsh (return to Rugby League)
• Jacob Welsh (return to Rugby League)
• Beau Langford (return to Rugby League)
• Brayden Pianta

WOMEN’S TEAM PROFILE

Coach: Daniel French

Leadership group: To be decided

Who are you expecting big things from?:

Olivia Addison has been to every training session even when we were doing beach runs back in January. She adopts a great attitude and would win awards for encouraging everyone that comes along.

“Really happy with our pre-season and how the club has welcomed us all. Now that other sports have finished it’s great to see an increase in numbers. Our skills are improving and all the girls are really supportive of each other so we remain keen for the season to start and to see what manifests.”

Big ins:

• Olivia Addison
• Anessa “Ness” Edwards
• Natasha Schultz (Sawtell Toormina Saints)

Big outs:

New team so no outs.