Tara Murray
Romsey has turned to a familiar face to lead them in next year’s Riddell District Netball League season.
The Redbacks announced last week that Lena Way would coach the club’s A-grade side as they look to rise back up the ladder. The Redbacks failed to win a game this year.
Way is no stranger to the Redbacks having played at the club and coached the club to the A-grade premiership in 2017.
Way said she never imagined that she would be back coaching the A-grade side again.
“I stuck my hand up to go back to coaching the A-grade side,” she said. “I felt like we needed to build the club back up and return to finals in all the grades.
“We’ve got a lot of talented juniors and I want them to have something to aspire to. We’ve got talented juniors coming through into the senior ranks.”
Way has been coaching junior sides at the Redbacks since stepping away from the senior program including leading the under-11s to a premiership.
She had a good base at the club, but it was about providing the support needed to help the existing players grow.
She said they would look to add some experienced players to the mix.
“We want to have a performance culture and a positive vibe around the netball club,” she said. “We want to build on what is already there.
“I’m looking to not only get the older ones back but develop the younger ones.
“We want to give them opportunities to play in the higher grades. It’s about development and success.
“It gives the young players the opportunity to be mentored by the more experienced players too.”
Way will coach the A-grade side and oversee the other coaches, with the same training regime to be in place for all the sides.
She said they want to have success in all the grades. Trials for all four Redbacks sides will be held on October 20 and 27.
Way said they were keen to see anyone there who is interested in playing.
“We are welcoming new players in all grades and of all standards,” she said.
“We’re looking to be inclusive with netball and football and for it to be a positive club to be part of.
“We’re about building on the talent already there. Before success, culture and positive netball come first and everything flows from there.”
