Holmes, one of the competition’s premier defensive players, replaces Mali Roberts, who is returning home to Queensland after leading the Hawks in 2017 and ’18.

The appointment will be her second as an A-grade coach in the BFNL.

Holmes previously coached Golden Square to a grand final appearance in her lone year at the helm in 2017, but stood down at season’s ends after announcing plans to travel overseas in early 2018.

The new Hawks leader cited her ambition to return to coaching and family ties as the major factors in her move to Canterbury Park.

“I was definitely looking at getting back into coaching. Only playing half the season last season after coming back from overseas probably reiterated the fact I was missing that element,” she said.

“I opened myself up to a few options for next season and Eaglehawk contacted me.

“I guess the deciding factor in the end was that my brother (Clayton) signed here as an assistant coach with the senior (football) side.

“We haven’t played at the same club for a very long time, so it will be nice to have family back together.”

Holmes inherits a Hawks side which has contested back-to-back finals series and is bristling with young talent.

Two of the Hawks brightest stars, sisters Ash and Abbey Ryan, were premiership team-mates of their new coach at Golden Square in 2015.

Holmes lavished praise on outgoing coach Roberts for leaving the club in such great shape.

“They finished third this season and have a great group of girls who are really just hitting their straps,” she said.

“If  we can keep building on what they have done so far anything’s possible.

“Mali has done such a great job, she’s a really great operator and has left behind so many great structures and policies.

“I feel the girls are in the right spot, so hopefully we can get to the top.”

Holmes, who was Golden Square’s top vote-getter in last season’s Betty Thompson Medal count with nine despite playing only half a season, said it had been a ‘hard call’ leaving Wade Street, where she featured in a run of four straight grand final appearances for the Bulldogs and was best on court in their 2015 flag triumph.

She also won the club’s 2018 best and fairest.

“I’ve played there the last seven seasons and they’ve been really good to me since the day I joined the BFNL,” she said.

“I will always have a soft spot for the Square – it’s been home for a long time.

“But this was an opportunity I wanted to take … I’m not leaving with any bad feelings, it was something I had to do for my netball.”

With her appointment finalised, Holmes’ attention will turn to recruiting and overseeing tryouts.

The Hawks will have their first tryout on November 4 at Canterbury Park from 2pm-4pm, followed by November 8 (6pm-8pm) and November 11 (10am-noon).

Eaglehawk netball operations manager Debra Lawton said the club was thrilled to have enticed a coach with Holmes’ experience and credentials.

“Allira was a bit of a priority for us … we really wanted to lock in a coach before trials,” she said.

“We’re also extremely grateful for everything Mali has done.”

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