Adam Boldiston is excited about returning to the Sunbury Lions.
Boldiston coached the Lions’ A-grade netball side to a Ballarat Netball League grand final in 2015 before Victorian Netball League commitments prevented him from coaching the side last season.
The Lions got back in touch with Boldiston late last year and the timing turned out to be perfect.
“Last year, being involved with the state league girls I just couldn’t fit it all in,” he said.
“Sunbury approached me before Christmas about coming back. I’m not coaching in the state league any more, so I have more time.”
This time around, Boldiston will coach the A-grade and B-grade sides.
He said his season of coaching Monash University’s VNL state championship side had helped develop his coaching skills.
“I gained experience in an elite environment,” he said. “I’m looking at bringing the same game plan for both A and B grade sides.”
The Lions were knocked out in the first week of the finals last year.
Several players were playing in two different Saturday netball competitions, which left the Lions short of players at times.
The Lions’ B grade and C grade sides won premierships.
Boldiston said this year the club would work on having have a stable line-up with a focus on bringing younger players through the teams.
He said 2015 players Elly Randall and Ruth Smith were returning, while he was hopeful a couple of other former players would play some role.
The Lions have lost captain Beck Anstey.
“We could possibly have some state league girls play as well,” he said.
“We’re hoping to get youth from Sunbury coming into the grades. The B grade side has been going great, with a real experienced side. They started to blood girls last year. We’d hate for all the experienced girls to retire at the one time and have no one coming through.”
The Lions are holding netball trials for all five sides. The first will run from 10.30am on February 4 and the second on February 9 from 7pm.
Meanwhile, the club’s senior footballers will start training on January 30. The club will have four senior teams this season, including a thirds team.
Interested players should contact senior coach Ben Jordan on 0400 809 013.
The club is also looking for trainers for all of its football and netball sides.
The Lions look set to kick off their season on Good Friday against Melton South, with the club’s season launch on April 8.
Meanwhile, the Lions’ women’s and youth girls football sides will play in the Essendon District Football League this season.
The senior team had been playing in the Victorian Women’s Football League, and the youth girls teams in a combined Essendon District and Western Region Youth Girls competition, but due to a change of structure, neither of those competitions will run this year.
The Lions considered both AFL Goldfields league and EDFL competitions for its female teams before deciding on the EDFL.
The club is still after players for its senior, under-12, under-15 and under-8 youth girls sides. The club is also seeking coaches for all three youth girls sides. Contact John Sanderson on 0419 342 369.
