EXPERIENCED netball coach Hayley Siddons is aiming to develop Robinvale Euston’s strength and game attitude to push the team into a better ladder placing this year.
Siddons, who grew up in Robinvale, previously coached at the club before moving to Swan Hill and coaching the A Grade Woorinen’s Netball team in the Central Murray League.
She still lives in Swan Hill, and was approached last year to return as coach for the Eagles’ A Grade side due to her experience.
“I am quite excited to be back at Robinvale, I have been away as a coach for 20 years,” she said.
“I still have family in Robinvale, my mum is ageing so it is a nice opportunity to spend a bit more time with family. My son is also moving there to work and play footy so it was great timing.”
Siddons said the club had lost quite a few players this year, but had new ones returning and juniors coming up to the senior sides.
“We have three pregnancies in the senior squad, which happens in every club with the age group we are dealing with, we have girls moving away for university and we have some juniors considering going to women’s football, which I’m assuming has affected a lot of clubs with no women’s footy,” she said.
“It is a bit of a challenge, especially for us, when (women’s football players) have to travel to Mildura to play football and it doesn’t really work with the Sunraysia league. Coming out of the Central Murray I am really disillusioned by how the Sunraysia and Millewa have worked together – or how they have not worked together.”
Isabella Giofrelle and Shakira Hingano are two of the side’s players not returning to the club this year.
Robinvale Euston finished at the bottom of the ladder last year, after only winning one game against Red Cliffs.
Siddons said despite the numerous losses, the team had a lot of close games.
She said they would be working on adjusting the player’s mindsets and continuing to push when behind.
“When you are three goals down, it’s about believing that that is only a few centre passes,” she said.
“In every single one of those games, that they lost by a small margin, they won or stayed with the opposition for at least one of those quarters. We definitely will be expecting that some of those closer games we would be winning this year.”
As well as game attitude, Siddons said the team would be working on a range of techniques and ways of improving.
“We have lost a few taller players over the past few years, so we are looking at ball speed as one of our key strategies,” she said.
“Another thing we are working on is getting a bit tougher as when you are small and short, you have to be strong, attitude-wise.”
Siddons said she was looking forward to seeing the girls develop of the year.
“This is a relatively young squad, so I’d expect that the young players in their early to mid-20s are still improving,” she said.
“I am really looking forward to seeing those developments happen and working with the more experienced and senior players at the club to develop the attitude that we can win and keep trying for four quarters.”
