Joanne Perkins to coach Jeparit-Rainbow's A Grade side | 2020 Horsham District netball
ON BOARD: Joanne Perkins has returned to coach Jeparit-Rainbow in 2020. Perkins last coached the side in 2016. Picture: CONTRIBUTED
A FAMILIAR face will coach Jeparit-Rainbow's A Grade netball side this season, with Joanne Perkins returning to the club and taking the helm for the 2020 Horsham District netball league season.
Perkins previously coached the senior side in 2016, and said she was excited to once again link-up with some familiar faces.
"I had a stint of two years at Kaniva Leeor, then had a year off last year," Perkins said.
"The club contacted me about coaching and I'm very excited about seeing the girls progression."
2019 was an exciting season for the Storm's netball department, as the A Grade side finished with six victories - more wins than their previous five seasons in the Horsham District league combined.
With almost every A Grade player returning for another season, Perkins was hopeful of continuing the upward trajectory.
"We're definitely excited to try and build from last season," she said.
"We've been doing pre-season since about the third week of January, and the numbers have been getting progressively better, which is great.
Rylee Cocks is one of the talented young netballers coming through the ranks at Jeparit-Rainbow. Picture: SAMANTHA CAMARRI
"It's quite a young group of girls which is also very exciting. Hopefully we can keep improving."
Helping the Storm's cause is the return of Alexandra Schultz and Ash Batson, nee Morrison, who missed the back-half of last season through pregnancy.
"Obviously with a couple of girls returning from maternity leave, it strengthens the A and B grade as well," Perkins said.
While she did not want the side to get ahead of itself, Perkins was buoyant about the prospect of playing finals for the first time since the club entered the district league in 2015.
"I don't even know how many years ago it would have been (since we last played finals)," she said.
"It was definitely when they were in the old Bulldogs colours.
"We're very excited."
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