GRAND final coach Jayden Cowling will continue as Kangaroo Flat's A-grade netball coach for a third season.
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Cowling, who led the Roos to a second-place finish in 2018, has been reappointed for a further one-year term.
The Roos were beaten by seven goals in last month's grand final by Sandhurst, which notched up a hat-trick of A-grade premierships following wins against Golden Square in 2017 and Gisborne in 2018.
Kangaroo Flat led the match at quarter time and trailed by just two goals at three-quarter time.
Cowling declared his decision to seek reappointment as a 'no-brainer' following such a successful season.
"I'm very excited to be back for a third season, there were no second thoughts at all about wanting to come back," he said.
"Once the club asked me I said yes straight away.
"Obviously, it was a great season finishing up in the grand final.
"We were shattered to lose, but the girls are all pretty pumped to get out there next year and give it another crack. Hopefully we can bounce back next year.
"We know what we need to do to be back in another grand final - for now we're looking forward to tryouts and the pre-season."
The Roos have improved in each of Cowling's seasons at the helm.
They finished third in 2018 after a fourth-place finish in 2017, and ended this season as runners-up.
In both years, the Roos finished one spot higher than their ladder placing at the end of the home and away season, boast a 4-3 finals record over that two-year period.
While only early days, Cowling was confident of having most, if not all of his A-grade playing group back next season.
The obvious question mark surrounds the availability of star defender Kate Burton, who missed the Roos' last three finals with a devastating Achilles injury.
"I'll have one-on-one chats with all the girls over the next few weeks, but so far I haven't heard of anyone leaving," said Cowling, who coached the BFNL's senior inter-league team this year.
"The only doubt is Kate Burton, depending on how her recovery goes and whether she wants to play netball again, but hopefully she's back."
Cowling anticipates the battle for A-grade spots - and across all grades - to be fierce after the Roos' A-reserve and B-grade teams also made grand finals.
"It's a very exciting time for Kangaroo Flat having so many teams in grand finals. We'll also have new courts (in 2020)," he said.
"I'm sure a lot of girls will be pushing for a move up a grade and you don't know who might turn up for tryouts as well."
Star centre Chelsea Sartori claimed the Roos' A-grade best and fairest award this season, ahead of goal attack Julia Clarke, after both players topped their club's voting in the Betty Thompson Medal count.
The Roos have also moved swiftly to reappoint 17-and-under coach Bree Bentley, after a convincing performance as leader of a young Roos squad laden with bottom-age players, and well-placed to challenge for a finals berth in 2020.
Kangaroo Flat is on the lookout for coaches for its A-reserve, B-grade, B-reserve and development (15-and-under) teams.
For inquiries contact Cath Wicks at candrwicks@bigpond.com
Applications close October 30.
To publicise your club's netball coaching appointment, email kieran.iles@bendigoadvertiser.com.au
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