Tara Murray
Gisborne is hoping a helping hand from a former Australian coach will boost it in the back half of the Bendigo Netball League.
Commonwealth Games and World Cup winning coach Lisa Alexander is working with the club’s coaches, helping to mentor them and providing feedback.
Bulldogs coach Tarryn Rymer said before the weekend’s match, it was really exciting to have her on the side lines.
“It is pretty cool,” she said. “She gets it and only works with clubs that value netball as much as football.
“The president comes and watches the netball every week which she thinks is really good
“We’ve had a couple of zoom sessions and she’s taking training on Thursday night and will sit and mentor the coaches on game day.”
The help from Alexander came as all five Bulldogs teams sit into the top three after 11 rounds.
Rymer said they were happy with how the season had played out so far.
“It is nice,” she said. “Like everyone we’re managing injuries and people being away.
“The girls are really determined and the A-Reserve girls haven’t lost a game and the A side won by one on the weekend after coming from behind.”
The Bulldogs depth is also starting to grow as they get to the important part of the season.
Rylee Connell played her first game back in A-grade after an achilles injury which was timed perfectly with Torie Skrijel.
Tiana Newman, a Betty Thompson medallist, is back in the A squad, while Tasma Morris is killing it in A-reserve team.
“It’s really nice,” Rymer said. “The aim for the A squad, which is A-grade and A-reserve, is that we really push to get as far as we can in both sides and across all five sides.”
With all five sides sitting comfortably in the top five, Rymer said the back end of the season was about making sure that they have all bases covered.
“We want to settle down before finals,” she said. “ We are looking at the big picture, the end game.
“We want to make sure we have running different combinations, making sure we have more than one combination that we’re relying on game day.
“We’re really having on what works best for each team and get that down pat.”
The Bulldogs face eighth placed Eaglehawk on Saturday.
