Ellie Thomas will return to co-coach Edenhope-Apsley’s A Grade netball team in 2019 after a decade away from the club.
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Thomas will share the duty with Sarah Domaschenz as the Saints hope to push beyond their third place finish in 2018.
Thomas will travel from South Australia each weekend and said she was excited to be returning to her home club.
“I’m really excited actually, really looking forward to it,” Thomas said.
“My Mum and Dad are still back there so I thought it would be a good opportunity to get back and see them a little bit more and play another year in my home town. It should be good.”
Thomas last played for the side in 2008 and was a teammate of Domaschenz for that season.
Thomas said she was looking forward to working with Domaschenz and reuniting with social circles at the club.
“(before making a decision) I was chatting to Sarah about it a little bit and we were talking about how there are a few numbers coming back to the club,” Thomas said.
“I spoke to some close friends who were coming home as well so I made my decision to come back and play with friends and reunite with the club sort of based on that.”
With the addition of Thomas and several other players, Thomas said it could be a new-look side this season.
Thomas said she hoped her netball experience would help the side come together, and was looking forward to passing on her netball knowledge.
“It might be a bit of a change in the lineup with a few people leaving and a few coming in,” Thomas said.
“It will be good to try some different things which I’ve learnt over my years away. Hopefully I’ll bring the energy and get everyone keen and ready to go – it sounds like there’s a really good buzz around the club at the moment.”
Domaschenz is also stepping up as an A Grade coach after previously coaching B Grade, C Grade and under-17s at the club.
Domaschenz said an early focus for the group will be maximising team chemistry.
“Hopefully we’ve got a few new players that we will finalise soon, but we’ve lost a few as well,” she said.
“One of our focuses will be on team moral, there will be a few new faces so we will try to get to know each other and understand each others games.
“We’ve got a really great coaching panel this season and hopefully we have some really good results.”