BRIDGEWATER made it through to the preliminary final last season, losing to ultimate premiers Mitiamo after winning their first two finals against Bears Lagoon Serpentine and Newbridge.
It was a strong result for the Mean Machine, which had finished the home-and-away matches in fourth spot.
Mitiamo and Pyramid Hill were a class above the other teams in 2024, but Bridgey defender Carly Van Den Heuvel marked her first season in the Loddon Valley league by winning the Helen Ward Medal for the competition’s best-and-fairest player.
Co-coach Caz Wood is expecting a slow start to the season with a few players unavailable but says by round four Bridgewater’s best side should have settled.
“If we can hold steady for only one or two games I won’t be worried about the overall season.”
Wood plans to change the goal circle lineup with the acquisition of tall shooters.
A potential senior star is 17-and-under B&F Rachael Flood, who has been named in the elite Netball Victoria Talent Academy.
At just 15, and a towering 185cm, she made her A Grade debut last season despite still being eligible for the 15-and-under side.
Flood, who generally plays goal defence, won both the league and Bridgewater 17-and-under best-and-fairest awards and has been selected in the North Central region training squad for the 2025 state titles.
Bridgewater has some real junior talent coming through, with three representatives out of 10 in both the 13-and-under and 17-and-under inter-league squads. 

Carly Van Den Heuvel quickly stamped her mark on Loddon Valley netball in h