The Navarre netballers are gearing up for a big return to the court with coaches locked in across all junior and senior sides.
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Krystal Browne and Trish Martin have been named the A grade coaches for season 2021 with the club seeing the year as a big opportunity for player development.
After no games were played last season, Browne said she is looking forward to returning to the court.
"It was a big shock to the system and I probably missed the social side of it the most," she said.
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"I definitely missed the netball side, but especially during the winter, not having that social connection with everybody and not seeing everybody for so long was probably the hardest bit."
"I live in the area and the club gave so much to me growing up, so it is a really nice opportunity to give back now as a senior.
Browne said the early signs for the club are good, with strong numbers and new faces at each training.
"We have had a few weeks at it and our numbers are looking healthy for this season, and everyone has been very keen to back into it and the enthusiasm is really good," she said.
"We have also tried to develop the younger players and keep them around the club, it can be hard to keep numbers here, so that is what I have really enjoyed, the challenge of it."
Trish Martin is a familiar face around the Navarre Football and Netball Club and in 2021 she will be more involved than ever.
Martin has been with the club for more than 10 years and will be coaching with the A grade side and also coaching the under-13 team in 2021.
"I just fell in love with the place," she said.
"The people are so welcoming and they bring you in and make you part of their family. It is a really community based club.
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"If I am going to be involved in something I like to give, so you take a lot away from being involved in a club and I wanted to give back to the club and that was my main motivation (to coach)."
Martin said she is keen to use her netball knowledge to help develop both the senior and junior players in 2021.
"For the senior side of things we are in a development stage at the moment," she said.
"When I started in 2009 the A grade group were in nine grand finals in a row, including three wins in a row in 2013-2015.
"The people are so welcoming and they bring you in and make you part of their family. It is a really community based club"
- Trish Martin
"So we are trying to develop our group to have that kind of success again on the court and developing our skills.
"When people stay, when you have to drive 37 kilometres for a home game it is because people love it and that's what you have got to try and develop to fall in love with the club.
"The junior program is one of the most important parts of the club. The biggest successes this club has seen is when they have brought kids through together."
In the B grade Shae Hannett will step up to coach the side, with Tegan Comitti by her side as co-coaches.
Hannett has coached the team over the last few seasons and is excited to be back.
"I missed it a lot, at the start I thought it might be nice having a bit of time off, but I missed the fitness and the social part," she said.
"I love seeing all the girls together, which motivates me and motivates them.
"I love getting back into it and all the socialising, it is like a big family out here so I feel like I am at home when I am here.
"The turnouts each week have been surprisingly good and everyone is showing a lot of motivation to get back into fitness and so it is good to see and makes you more motivated to coach too when you have a good group."
Co-coaches will also be used for the Navarre's C grade team, with Caitlyn Baird and Rebbekkah Seeary-Pye leading the way.
Navarre's junior netball teams are also ready to go, with coaches named for all teams.
Brittany Tannock and Ruby Bibby will head the under-17 side, who started training in late February.
Tannock said more numbers for the squad would be great, after many of the 2019 side, who played in the finals, have now moved on.
With Trish Martin leading the under-13 side, Lillie Comitti has also stepped up to coach the under-11 and under-15 teams.
"The juniors are a vitally important part of our club and we need to keep bringing them back to keep our club alive," she said.
"I love the excitement of the kids and getting to see them grow and learn new skills each week."
Training for the junior teams will start on Thursday March 11 at the Navarre Recreation Reserve.
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