Cougar coaches in key state roles

KEY Geelong figures will lead Netball Victoria’s junior state teams.

Geelong Cougars coaches Mel Savage and Gerard Murphy will take charge of the 17-and-under and 19-and-under Victorian teams for next year’s national championships.

“I’m very, very excited,” Savage said. “I truly believe in the program and I feel very privileged to be a part of it. This will be my fifth year involved in the state team pathway (and) I’m really excited about the opportunity.”

After leading her side to fourth this year, Savage has high hopes for next year.

“Obviously we want to finish first — you don’t go to nationals to finish fourth, so we’ll be aiming to finish first,” she said, with state team trials imminent. “I don’t think it was about the ability of the players (this year). I think … at the right end (of the tournament) we probably didn’t perform as well as we had in the rounds, so this year it’s getting the team ready to perform at the right time at the nationals carnival.”

For Murphy, the Cougars’ head coach, his appointment marks a long-awaited return to the state program.

“It’s been seven years since I’ve coached in the state program where I was involved for four years,” Murphy said.

“During that time I got to coach many players who have gone on to (play) Suncorp Super Netball, including Liz Watson, Kate Moloney, Emily Mannix, Jo Weston, Melissa Bragg, Molly Jovic and Kelsey Browne. It was an amazing step in my coaching development and so rewarding watching our athletes progress through the pathway and develop to reach the highest levels of netball in the world.”

The Australian National Netball Championships are in Hobart from April 18 to 23 next year.