Stephan back in charge
What’s old is new again at Nhill. The Tigers have signed Mandy Stephan, a former A Grade netball coach at the club, to helm the team once again in 2019.
Stephan said she was unsure how many years it had been since she had coached the side, but admitted it had ‘been a while’.
She said she was relishing a chance to step back into the role.
“I have always been interested in coaching,” she said.
“I walked away last time because of family commitments that I had in my life at the time. Now there has been an opportunity to come back and I’m keen and ready to go.”
Stephan said she would use the years of coaching experience under her belt to her advantage.
“I’ve seen Minyip-murtoa’s Billie Bibby being talked about as the youngest coach in the league, well I’m probably the oldest coach in the league,” she said.
“We’re looking forward to the season and everyone is keen and ready to play.”
The Tigers will have a new look this season, with several players, including Jessica and Rosie Smith, departing.
Stephan said the team was focused on bringing in quality players to replace them.
“The hospital is a major employer so there are a few girls from there who have put their hands up at training,” she said.
“We’ve got a relatively new crop of school teachers, so we seem to be attracting some players, which is great.”
Stephan said it was hard for a small community like Nhill to retain players every year.
“We’ve lost a few players because of work commitments,” she said.
“A lot of girls come to the area and then for career advancement they move away.
“The towns closer to Horsham and the bigger centres are still able to generate players within their club, but Nhill is just a little bit too far away.
“We seem to be in the middle, where Warracknabeal can get players from the Mallee, Horsham can get players from within, Minyip-murtoa can get players from Horsham.
“People can work in Horsham and still train at 6pm at Minyip.
“We’ve got Nhill girls who work in Horsham, but the ability to come to training is a concern because they have to knock off early and travel nearly an hour.
“They are things we have no control over as a club, but those are the logistics of sport I suppose.”
To combat the constantly changing team dynamic, Stephan said she would try to instill a strong set of values and a sense of identity across the whole netball program. “I come in with no biases,” she said.
“I’m going on what I see in practice matches and training sessions, and that is what will determine who is in the team.
“There might be some juniors that are going to pop their heads up. No position is safe within our club.
“I’ve said to the girls that no position is safe, and just because you’re in A Grade this week, it does not necessarily mean you will be in A Grade next week.
“Hopefully we can develop a strong unity, not just within the senior ranks but also right through to the junior ranks.
“It’s about generating a culture of inclusiveness and honesty and integrity which are part of the values I have.”
Nhill has finished last in four of the past five seasons, and won only two matches last year.
Stephan said it was important for the Tigers to change how they were perceived by the rest of the association.
“It’s important that Nhill is not seen as an easy team,” she said.
“I would love to see Nhill be competitive and players be proud of themselves and where they come from.
“Just because we’re from Nhill, it doesn’t mean we don’t have the skill within our community to compete.
“This season is about working with what we’ve got to develop a culture that is inclusive and honest, and is proud to represent Nhill.”