Sunbury Kangaroos have started the slow climb up the Riddell District Netball League ladder.
The Kangaroos have struggled the past two seasons since its A-grade side returned to the competition, winning just one match.
Last week the club appointed Kylie Micallef as A-grade coach for the upcoming season. Micallef, whose partner is involved in the football side of the, club said she decided to step in to help.
“I’ve been involved with the club for a number of years,” she said. “I’ve played netball since I was 10 … I’ve had a few years off, but I used to be affiliated with the Heights Netball Club at Parkville Netball Competition.
“I had done coaching down there … I decided to step up and coach here. It’s a new and exciting challenge,” she said.
Micallef knows the road ahead won’t be easy, and she isn’t expecting miracles.
“It’s not going to happen overnight,” she said.
“Whenever you go out there, finals is the dream.
“If we don’t make them this year, we’ll be looking to make them next year.
“It’s about building to better things in the long term.”
Most of last year’s playing group remains, while Micallef has brought in a couple of Northern Netball League division 1 players.
Micallef said she will be a non-playing coach, and said there will be try-outs in February to add a few more players to the teams.
Training is due to start later this month.
“We don’t have great height, so some tall players would help,” she said.
The Kangaroos still need a B-grade coach, with C-grade and under-19 positions filled.
Meanwhile, training for the Kangaroos inaugural women’s football team starts on January 30 at 6pm at Boardman Reserve.
Anyone interested in coaching the B-grade netball side or getting involved in the women’s football team can contact Allan Walters on 0400 408 019.
Tara Murray
