Great news for Warrack Eagles fans as talented netballing sisters Ashlynn and Briodi McKenzie have put pen to paper for another year at the club.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Ashlynn will coach the A Grade side again, while Briodi under the tutelage of her sister will play an important role in the side's quest for another A Grade Wimmera Netball premiership.
"I'm stoked to have re-signed again for next year," Ashlynn said.
READ MORE:
"The Eagles is where I played all my juniors and after 10 years away from the club coming back has been such a wonderful experience."
Ashlynn will also return to playing in the side after a year off because of a knee injury. Her recovery is tracking well and she is "hoping to be ready for round one".
Briodi is similarly excited to play for Warrack again, with her sister in charge.
"The team and club have an amazing vibe and I always look forward to being a part of it," Briodi said.
"As scary as I thought it would be having Ash in charge, I absolutely love it.
"She's got so much knowledge, fresh ideas and a different outlook to previous years and it's exciting."
The Eagles finished the 2021 A Grade regular season in fourth and if they can keep most of their 2021 side and add a few recruits they will no doubt be a force again in 2022.
"Our senior squad is looking great for next year," Ashlynn said.
"We've got players, including myself, that are still recovering from injuries but those girls have been rehabbing really hard and should be able to step into preseason in good stead.
"We're retaining a lot of players as well. We've got our eyes out for recruiting players too."
With the stop-start nature of the 2021 season and the finals ultimately cancelled it would be easy for most to refer to the year as a waste. Ashlynn however likes to think the adversity made her "a better coach".
"Not only did we have covid but also injuries galore," she said.
"I had to become really adaptable and think on my feet.
"Those challenges however were made easier with the other senior coaches around me in Emma Koschitzke and Jules Phelan. We work really well as a team."
The Eagles A Grade Netballers are a team that has made a habit out of being successful. They rarely miss finals and won their last premiership in 2015.
MORE NEWS:
According to Ashlynn there are two things that have contributed to the club's sustained on-field prowess.
"Being a strong unit as a team has always been something that has been a big focus at the club," she said.
"You can have all the talent in the world but if you can't be a team unit things won't work.
"We also have a never-say-die attitude. We never throw in the towel no matter what the scoreboard says."
Not only is Briodi an important player on the court, she also has the very important off-field role of handling the jukebox on Saturday nights.
She does not take the responsibility lightly and said one song in particularly has proven to be popular among the locals.
"Hey Baby by DJ Otzi has proven to be a favourite recently," she laughed.
Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content:
- Bookmark www.mailtimes.com.au/
- Make sure you are signed up for our breaking and regular headlines newsletters
- Follow us on Twitter: twitter.com/Wim_Mail_Times
- Follow us on Instagram www.instagram.com/wimmeramailtimes/