TALLYGAROOPNA
NETBALL
It is a form of unfinished business for Tallygaroopna A-grade coach Fiona Down and her charges as they prepare for the 2022 season.
Last year’s minor premier enjoyed an emphatic 2021 on the court, where it lost one game from 11 appearances.
With minimal changes to the A-grade roster, the playing coach is hopeful Tallygaroopna can again occupy the top positions on the ladder.
“Absolutely, everyone always strives to compete and challenge for finals,” Down said.
“That will be one of our main focuses for this season because at the end of the day we are hungry to finish off last season.
“But just getting back out there (on the court), getting community sport back, having fun, enjoying netball and making friendships is what we will also focus on.”
Down revealed her squad had retained majority of its playing list, however, Georgi Sidebottom and Sarah Taylor are having a year off.
But Down, now heading into her second season as coach, said the club had welcomed back former players to its netball ranks.
“We’ll be very similar to last year, apart from a few outs, but majority of us are returning,” she said.
– AYDIN PAYNE
FOOTBALL
Tallygaroopna coach Daniel Kirchen has one main focus for the upcoming Kyabram District League campaign and that is to lift his charges up the senior football ladder.
There were plenty of uncertainties before last year’s season, but not many predicted the dramatic fall of Tallygaroopna.
The Redlegs, the 2019 grand finalists, slumped to 13th on the ladder with two wins against their name.
A raft of player departures and the interruptions of COVID-19 left the Redlegs as one of the hardest hit clubs.
But with Kirchen now entering his second year as coach and with some new faces set to bolster the line-up, expect Tally’s rebuild to be a quick one. “Our number one aim this season is to go a step better from last year,” Kirchen said.
“We want to get better and improve; hopefully we are able to win a few games and get a bit more continuity in our game.
“We want to keep moving forward in the right direction.”
Kirchen will have some quality reinforcements at his disposal for the upcoming campaign.
Premiership player Nic Fichera is back at the club in an assistant coaching role after a year at Central Park for Shepparton East.
Angus Harrington has come across from Shepparton Swans and will be a handy tall, while youngster Campbell Steigenberger is another to keep an eye on.
“(Pre-season) has been pretty good, we’ve been able to add a few new faces,” Kirchen said.
“Everyone is looking forward to the season.”
– AYDIN PAYNE