By LIAM TWOMEY
FOR the third successive year VU Western Lightning will enter the Victorian Netball League with a brand new goal set-up.
In the off-season the Lightning lost shooting pair Erin McCarthy, who is going overseas, and Meg Fitzpatrick, who ruptured her ACL while playing for the Victorian Flames.
Fitzpatrick is also expected to miss the entire season.
The duo will be replaced in goals by Kate Thompson and Sophie Barr.
“Kate was in the Australian under-21 program at the AIS for the best part of the last two years,” VU coach Matt Hills said.
“She is only a young goal shooter and she will add a bit of potency to our forward line.
“We have also moved Sophie Barr back into goals. She was in goals when we made the grand final.”
After finishing second in 2012 and third in 2013, Hills is expecting another tough year.
VU will begin its campaign this week against defending champion City West Falcons.
“The last two years the competition has gone seven or eight teams deep and anyone can almost beat anyone on any given day,” Hills said.
“You have got to get everything right and it all starts from next week when we play the reigning, back to back, premier who we have had an intense rivalry with over the last couple of years.
“They will certainly be hard to beat. I would expect them to be right amongst it all year.
“They are very well prepared and very confident group. It is going to be a significant challenge for us first up but it will give us a good indication of where we are at.”
