Taylor Mason will lead Ararat’s top netball team in 2019, bringing with her a raft of experience despite her young age.

Mason was part of a dominant era of netball at Navarre in the past decade, playing a crucial role in the Grasshoppers’ four consecutive premierships between 2013 and 2016.

Mason has coaching experience under her belt, leading Navarre in the 2017 Maryborough Castlemaine District League season as well as being involved with junior interleague sides as well.

Rats netball director Stacey Dale said bringing Mason on board is an “exciting” move.

“We are really happy to have recruited Taylor as A Grade coach," she said.

“Being quite a young coach we hope she can bring a new feel into our A Grade side and introduce a bit of a renewed vigour.

“She has a pretty great history of success we are hoping can rub of on our side.”

Mason returns to the region after spending 2018 playing for Corio. 

She said she is excited to make the move back to the region and join Ararat.

“I wanted to play somewhere a bit closer to my Mum and Dad and the club seemed like a really nice fit,” she said.

“I know a lot of people at the club and think it is really going places.”

Mason will rejoin Navarre premiership teammates Jess Williamson and Lauren Armstrong at the Rats.

The young coach said she is excited about the potential of the A Grade group in 2019.

”I think the club was in a bit of a rut a few years ago but now it is on the rise,” she said.

“Hopefully we can try and take that to another level.”

Mason replaces Donna Spalding who took the Rats to the elimination finals in 2018. 

All of Ararat’s football and netball sides played finals last year but Dale said while it is great to see teams playing finals, the club is aiming to go deeper.

“We want to push forward with our senior netballers and really be competitive with the top teams,” she said.

Ararat has secured coaches for all netball sides except B Grade at this point in time. 

2019 Ararat netball coaches

The Rats will begin their tryout process for its netball sides on Thursday. Dale said Mason is not a guaranteed a spot in the A Grade side despite her appointment as coach.

“She understands she has to try out like everyone else,” she said.

“She broke her ankle last year and understands if she has to play lower grade she will.”

Mason said her recovery from the injury is coming along well.

“I have been working hard to build my fitness back up and come round one I am confident I will be at 100 per cent,” she said.

The Rats open their 2019 campaign at home against Warrack Eagles on April 13.

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