Young Heat team building for success
Preparation for the 2024 Mahindra Super League season has been in full swing for the Canberra Heat.
Captain Rex Merewether says the team is shaping up well, gearing up with renewed focus and determination. The team is improving steadily, taking training a week at a time, and Merewether is particularly interested to see how they will develop throughout the season.
“It has been a great first few sessions with the U18 and U20 boys now that they’re back from Bahrain and Indonesia – obviously some great lessons learnt from their time over there.
“I’m really excited to see how we shape up against some of the best volleyball players in Australia.”
Looking back at the 2023 season, Merewether is uniquely positioned as the only returning player from last year’s Super League squad. This season, he’ll be the only one familiar with the league’s accelerated format, which presents both challenges and opportunities.
“It’ll be a great opportunity for the young stars on our team to adapt to something new and show their flexibility as volleyball players,” he said.
In training, the team has been emphasising the importance of starting with and maintaining high intensity, an essential strategy for success in the fast-paced Super League format.
“Last season, I feel we adapted quite well. We made finals with a young team, which was, of course, a fun experience.
However, there were challenges, such as timing the use of the team’s power plays, and handling situations where the opposing team gained momentum.
Merewether is optimistic ahead of the 2024 season.
“Being in Canberra, our team has close ties with the Australian Volleyball Academy (AVA),” he said.
“It would be really great for us to make finals again!”
With an almost entirely new squad, many of whom will be playing senior volleyball at a national level for the first time, the road to the finals won’t be easy. But Merewether is confident in their potential.
“With how quickly we’ve come together as a unit and how we’re improving week to week, I wouldn’t be surprised if we cause a few upsets.”
The Canberra Heat will take on the NSW Phoenix in the first round of the season on Saturday 31 August at Sydney Olympic Park.
Click here for more information on the 2024 Mahindra Super League.
