Natimuk United has turned to Casey Vanstan to lead its premiership tilt next season, bringing to a close Cheryl Sudholz's seven-year tenure as an A Grade coach.
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Vanstan's appointment as the new A Grade coach headlines a new-look Ewes coaching group for the 2020 Horsham District Football Netball League season.
Next season will be Vanstan's second season as a coach and her first at the helm of a senior side, after taking the reins of the club's 17-and-under team in 2019.
"I co-coached the under-17's this year, and enjoyed developing the girls' skills further, and with Cheryl wanting to step down I thought why not give it a go," Vanstan said.
"Coaching wasn't something I had thought about before coaching the under-17's. I didn't think I'd enjoy it as much as I did so I'm glad I did give it a go."
Cheryl Sudholz - a three-time premiership-winning coach - will remain with the club as a player.
Erica Blake will offer guidance from the sideline as assistant coach of the A Grade team. Blake and Vanstan co-coached the 17-and-under side to the semi-finals in 2019.
"She's just a wealth of knowledge," Vanstan said.
"Erica is great. We get along really well, and we think on the same page. Everything just runs really smoothly, which is good."
Returning B Grade coach Danielle Hanson, C Grade coach Sophie Tuffnell and C Reserve coach Cherie Tomlins complete a coaching group that shares nearly 1000 games of senior netball experience.
Natimuk United netball director Kate-Lyn Perkin hoped early appointments would aid with player recruitment and retention.
"The key has always been to get the coaches locked in early, purely because there's a lot of planning that goes into the netball," she said.
"We want the coaches to be able to have January to plan what want they want to do for the year.
"Also, some people do decide where they're playing on who is coaching, so it helps getting new people into the club.
"Showing that we're organised with our coaches might just entice some new players."
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