BEARS Lagoon-Serpentine has pulled off a netball recruiting coup by securing Cara Bastian as head coach for the 2017 Loddon Valley league season.
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Bastian – a dynamic shooter – has previously made her name in the LVFNL as a star with YCW, where she was a premiership player and also league representative.
Bastian joins the Bears after a stint in the Bendigo Football-Netball League with Strathfieldsaye, which included playing in the Storm’s losing grand final side to Golden Square in 2015.
She takes over as coach after a 2016 season in which the Bears finished eighth in A grade, with their only victory a seven-goal win over Inglewood in round nine.
Bastian will cross paths with her former team for the first time in round seven when the Bears host YCW.
The Bears’ netball coaching panel for 2017 also includes Sarah Bollard (C grade), Hayley Koetsier and Jaimi Elgar (under-17), Ellen McRae (under-15) and Michelle Francis (minis).
The club is still yet to fill its B grade and C reserve coaching positions.
The Bears will hold their netball try-outs at Maiden Gully’s Marist College on Sunday, January 22 from 10am; Tuesday, January 24 from 6pm; and Monday, January 30 from 6pm.
Players are expected to attend at least two trials.
Meanwhile, on the football field, Greg Gadsden will again be at the helm as senior coach for a second season.
Having played in two grand finals and a preliminary final between 2013 and 2015, the Bears last year went into re-building mode with youth following an exodus of players.
The Bears ended the 2016 season winless, although, there were two near-misses with a pair of three-point losses against Marong and Newbridge.
The club has a new reserves coach in Ben Stannard, while the under-18s will be jointly led by Zac Stone and Charlie Gadsden.
The Bears will begin pre-season training on Monday, January 30, from 6pm at Marist College oval.
The club is looking for more players for its under-18 team. Anyone interested in playing can contact Stone on 0419 311 043 or Charlie Gadsden on 0428 955 547.
Bears Lagoon-Serpentine will open its 2017 campaign with an away game against Bridgewater on Saturday, April 1.
The Bears’ first home game will be against Marong on April 8.
Pictured:
Front – Sarah Byrne (netball president), Cara Bastian (head coach & A grade), Greg Gadsden (senior coach), Anthony Holland (football president).
Middle – Ellen McRae (U/15), Hayley Koetsier (U/17), Jaimi Elgar (U/17), Sarah Bollard (C grade).
Back – Zac Stone (U/18), Charlie Gadsden (U/18), Ben Stannard (reserves).