Victorian Netball League (VNL) representative player Lillian O’Sullivan has joined the Grubber ranks as a key mid-season A Grade recruit.
O’Sullivan from Melbourne, has represented Monash in VNL and played alongside Grubber playing assistant coach Kate Slattery.
Ocean Grove senior playing coach Elyse Howard said O’Sullivan will be a key addition.
O’Sullivan played her first A Grade game at her new home at Shell Road for Grubbers against Torquay on Saturday.
O’Sullivan is expected to help fill void for Ocean Grove A Grade centre Olivia Hobbs, who went down with a season ending knee injury on 20 April after the club’s win over Queenscliff in Round 3.
“She will play at (C) centre and (WA) wing attack she has played years of Championship VNL so she will bring leadership and added defensive pressure in the centre role when needed,” Howard told the Voice.
“Will create options other than just Emily (Moroney) and I.”
THE Grubbers have dropped to third on the A Grade ladder after two losses from its past three starts with home defeats to Geelong Amateur in Round 6 and Torquay in Round 8 on Saturday.
Ocean Grove A Grade was the outright leader after five rounds with a 5-0 start.
Howard said while her team needed to work on finishing off games better against the top sides, she was buoyant with the club’s progress in 2019.
“It’s disappointing but is something to work on,” Howard told the Voice.
“We need to adjust better to changes.
“Torquay and (Geelong Amateur) are teams that have played together for a long period of time.
“We are a new team with five players coming back from injuries and pregnancies, a new player and a player absent.
“For us to be competitive is a great start for us.”
MEANTIME star recruit Julia Ann Goodwin, who is currently overseas, is expected to resume playing later this month and will miss games against Newcomb in Round 9 and Barwon Heads in Round 10.
Goodwin, a goal attack, has scored 48 goals in five games including a personal best of 22 goals against reigning BFNL A Grade premier Modewarre in Round 4.
