Mayne returns to the game for Imps

EXPERIENCED coach Kym Mayne has returned to lead Imperial’s A Grade team as it rebuilds its ranks.

Mayne, who has about 30 years experience coaching the Imps A Grade side, made her return to the coaching position this year after a much-needed year off.

“A few years of COVID was hard, and I had been committed for quite a few years, so I definitely needed last year as a break,” she said.

“This year I put my hand back up to get the club back into the direction it needed to go.”

Mayne said she was ready to work with the team to help them have a strong 2023 season, after finishing last year in fifth place.

Imperials were sat in sixth spot for most of the year, before overtaking Irymple in the last round.

Imperials had the potential to close in on fourth place near the end of the season, but an abandoned game due to an opposition player’s injury, saw them miss a chance at another win.

Mayne said from last year’s starting seven, only about three players remained.

Missing this year will be defender Sophie Kroehn and WD Bridget Bennet, who have left the club.

While the future of key sister duo Alle and Ebony Littore was uncertain.

“We are unsure about the Littore sisters at the moment,” Mayne said.

“It looks like Ebony may be leaving town and Alle is recovering from an injury, so she is doing recovery for pre-season.”

Kia Scott and Meg McManus still remain on the team.

Mayne said despite the player losses, Imps were rebuilding, with several talented juniors coming up.

She said previous player Maddison Mayne was also returning to the club.

“We will be rebuilding and using our very keen, enthusiastic and talented juniors to fill the void of those players that left,” she said.

“We have some really strong juniors coming out of 17s.”

Mayne said the team were learning to “trust the processes” this year.

“We just need to get some continuity back into our play and to trust each other and use the ball from one end to another,” she said.

Imperials train twice a week at Sarah Oval.

Mayne said the girls were working on fitness, ready for the season.

‘The girls have been working hard for the last few weeks,” she said.

“A lot of them are doing pre-season stuff or fitness stuff themselves.

“This is now just bringing it together and putting it in the club environment.”