2019 WNWBL SEASON PREVIEW: KILSYTH COBRAS
Last Year: 2 wins, 13 losses- 6th
Roster:Tahanee Akermanns, Laura Davoli, Leanne Del Toso, Alexandra Gale-Grime, Kim Hampton, Isabel Martin, Bree Mellberg, Brianna O’Bryan, Elise Richards and Teisha Shadwell.
Fixture: The Cobras open Round One with a match-up against the Red Dust Lady Heelers, before than taking on the Queensland Comets to wrap up a three-game slate in Round One. Kilsyth will have to wait until Round Five to play at their home stadium, when Kilsyth Sports Centre set to host Round Five action from 2-4 August.
Overview: After a disappointing 2018 campaign, the Cobras will be looking to push up the standings in 2019. However, Kilysth will face a gruelling opening weekend, with match-ups against both 2018 Grand-Finalists in the Queensland Comets and Perth Wheelcats to test them early.
The Cobras will bring four new players into the fold, namely Tahanee Akermanns, Alexandra Gale-Grime, Brianna O’Bryan and Elise Richards. Gale-Grime comes from an Australian Rules Football background, having played in the Victorian Wheelchair Football League. Meanwhile, Brianna O’Bryan will join the team after a successful Kevin Coombs Cup campaign with Victoria in Townsville in April. Elise Richards will bring more national team experience to the Cobras, as Richards was a member of the Under-25 Devils squad that played Japan earlier this year.
One to Watch: Teisha Shadwell was one of the team’s key players in 2018, averaging a double-double of 12.9 points and 11.5 rebounds per game. A young star in the sport, another year of growth should see Shadwell continue to improve as a dominant force in the WNWBL. Having made her Gliders debut at the Osaka Cup in February, Shadwell has the makings of a long-term, star Glider and dominant WNWBL player.
