WITH the 2023 South West District Football Netball League season fast approaching, teams are starting to lock-in in their coaching ranks for the year ahead, with some fresh and familiar faces among them.

Heathmere

Heathmere did not field an A grade netball side last season, and at this stage the club is still exploring its options for the 2023 season, however at this stage a coach has yet to be named.

Meanwhile, Adrian Hann is continuing in his role as senior football coach at the club for the second season, with him telling the Observer that the club is continuing to build towards a positive future.

“We want to be competitive for a full four quarters against every team, that’s the standard I’m pushing for next season,” Hann said back in September.

Westerns

Westerns has made changes at the helm of both sports, with Winis Imbi taking on the senior football coaching role, while three-time premiership coach Lisa Carr has returned to her post as A grade netball coach.

It’s been a challenging period for Westerns football, as they won just a single game last season, however the hope is that with a highly-respected and well-established figure in Imbi in charge, the club can begin to build for the future.

Tyrendarra

After winning the A grade netball premiership last year, it only made sense for Tyrendarra coach Rani Kane to continue in her role this season.

This time around, she’ll have the added assistance of star goaler Hannah Van Gemst who will be stepping into a playing co-coach role this season.

Meanwhile, Sam Anson has taken on the role as senior football coach after joining the club in a purely playing capacity late last season.

Dartmoor

Jayden Polaski will continue on as coach of Dartmoor’s senior football side which came ever so close to premiership glory last season before ultimately losing in the grand final.

The Giants also came runner-up in the A grade netball competition; however, they’ll see a change in coaching this season as Leesa Logan will step in to take the reins from last year’s coach Elise Haw.

Logan played at Dartmoor last season; however, she told the Observer she expects to take on a bench coaching role for 2023.

“I didn’t want to leave the club after only being there one year, they’ve been really great … that’s why I opted for coaching, this year I’ll be taking more of a bench coach position rather than an on-court coach,” she said.

Cavendish

Cavendish has made changes in both roles for this season, with last year’s league best and fairest Sam Gibson to take over as senior football coach, with a mind to helping the side go for back-to-back premierships.

As for netball, a familiar face will be returning to the A grade coaching role as Leanne Perry will be stepping back into the position, she vacated in 2019.

With over 40 years of experience coaching netball, Perry will bring a wealth of knowledge to a club which plans on being a strong contender for premiership honours in 2023.

Coleraine

Casey Pye will be returning as A grade netball coach for Coleraine, in what will be her second season in charge.

As for football, last year’s preliminary finalists will welcome the continuation of Ryan McClure’s tenure in the top job, with the Maroons having announced a new assistant coach with Adam Ward joining Cody Deutscher in the role after coaching their reserves side last season.

Heywood

Sammy Walsh-Bannam has taken on the position as Heywood senior coach, with former AFL footballer Leon Davis stepping back into an assistant coaching role for 2023.

Having been in the Heywood system last season, Walsh-Bannam will be hoping to get the most out of a side which suffered a sudden-death exit in the finals last season.

Hayley Friend will be continuing on as A grade netball coach, as Heywood looks to push for finals contention in 2023.

Branxholme-Wallacedale

Leigh Ewing will be continuing in his role as senior coach at Branxholme-Wallacedale for 2023, with the club hoping for a finals berth after just missing out last season.

Their A grade netball will also see the return of Georgia Muldoon for the coming season, and she told the Observer she’s excited for the season ahead.

“We’re very keen to get going and continue the rebuild, we have preseason starting very shortly which will be a great way to get everyone back into it for 2023,” she said.