Dusties launch into pre-season

Warragul Industrials Football Netball Club is looking forward to its move into the West Gippsland Football Netball Competition with anticipation as pre-season training begins next week.

The senior football and netball sides will be led by coaches who boast an impressive resume in Stephen Ryan and Rachael Chandler, with club players, supporters and sponsors taking the opportunity to meet them at a recent meet and greet function.

Ryan, who will lead in a non-playing capacity, spent eight years in the AFL system at Richmond and Collingwood from under 19 through to senior football, playing under the likes of Kevin Bartlett, Allan Jeans, John Northey and Leigh Matthews.

Following four years of senior VFL football at Frankston, Ryan spent four years as a playing coach at Rye where he helped collect the 2006 premiership.

A stint at Pines as non-playing coach saw Ryan selected as Mornington Peninsula interleague coach in 2013, with other representative honours including assistant coach of the Victoria Country under 19 team.

In recent years he has coached St Bedes and De La Salle A grade sides in the Victorian Amateur Football Association, with his latest appointment being senior coach at Mentone.

Pre-season for the footballers began yesterday, with Ryan putting a plan in place to take the senior side and the club’s junior development program forward.

Vin Rabl has been appointed junior development coordinator, while Shane Ingham will continue to lead the Reserves side which will be aiming to take its recent success in the EDFL through to the West Gippsland competition.

Astute junior mentor Rob Hefford will coach the under 18 side, while the club continues to search for a women’s football coach to replace Jason Mitchell who has moved on in pursuit of higher honours.

A focus on developing junior players will take place on the netball court under head coach Rachael Chandler.

Chandler has extensive netball experience, having played both overseas and interstate to complement her involvement at local clubs including Nilma-Darnum, Neerim-Neerim South and Warragul.

Pre-season for senior netballers has already begun, with juniors to take to the court for training from Tuesday, December 4.

The Warragul Industrials Football Netball Club recently launched its pre-season with a meet the coaches night. Pictured from left junior development coordinator Vin Rabl, senior football coach Stephen Ryan, club president Dale Bainbridge, netball manager Stacey Lawry and senior netball coach Rachael Chandler.