The Hunter side for 2018 was named following a trial on Sunday featuring more than 30 hopefuls.

Defenders Mikenzie McManus and Kimberly Goodearl, centre Sophie Buckley and goal attack Emma Prince were key players in their minor and major premiership success but are not returning for another season because of other commitments.

New to the squad will be Angela Williams, Natarlia Bridges (nee Manning), Veronica Smith, Katelyn Stansfield and Anna Atkinson.

Williams, the sister of returning player Kimberly Williams, has earned promotion from Hunter’s second team, who play division four. Bridges is a former Australian youth representative, Smith is back after a season off with injury, Stansfield is a goal attack from Newcastle club Souths and Atkinson is a 16-year-old mid-courter.

Baber said it would be “very hard to replace the four who haven’t come back” but she was thrilled with the additions. She was especially pleased to have Atkinson, all the way from Scone, given the club’s desire to provide a pathway for players across the whole region.

“It’s a whole new defensive circle and we’ve lost four of our seven starting players,” Baber said. “There’s no way to sugarcoat that, but the replacements are very, very capable players. It’s exciting for me because there are girls I haven’t worked with before, and I think there’s a good dynamic to the team.”

The season starts late April.

Sabina Gomboso, Abbie Gray, Laura Nolan, Karlie Robards and Kim Williams are returning. Natasha Robards is also expected to play again, although she needs to overcome a back injury which ended her 2017 season early.

Baber said Hunter may also lose players to clubs in the top NSW division, the Premier League. Those clubs have held trials and announce squads in December.