HAMILTON KANGAROOS FNC has announced its netball coaches for the Hampden Football Netball League 2025 season, with Jarryd Anton back in charge of the top two grades, Open and Division 1.

Anton returns to the club after coaching Portarlington FNC in 2023 and 2024, and after five years away from the Roo’s he will slot back into the role with an expanded skillset.

“I needed a change when I left Hamilton,” Anton said.

“I headed down to Portarlington and that is an incredible league to be involved in.

“It really extended my coaching skills, and I think I will return to the Roos in 2025 as a very different coach to when I left.”

Anton had success with the Division 3 team in 2018 and 2019 with back-to-back flags all while guiding the 15-and-Under side to a premiership also in 2019.

Plenty of juniors gained valuable court time in the Open grade side last season and that experience is something that Anton can build upon next season.

“I think we have some incredible juniors, and this past year was about getting them experience with a lot of the girls I coached now senior netballers, and it will be really nice to work with them again,” Anton said.

We are looking to build the strongest possible and putting the strongest netballers in at a Hamilton Kangaroos level, so we will be recruiting hard.

“If you pit strong netballers around juniors, then their skills improve.

With the Roos Division 1 team winning the premiership in 2024, Anton has a ready-made squad of players who can represent the club at the highest level and achieve success.

Former Open grade coach, Emma Sommerville will become Anton’s assistant coach in the Open grade and guide the 17-and Under squad where she will have great influence over the Roos future stars with assistance from Sophie Robinson.

Division 2 will see Kyra McInnes in charge, while Deb Pither is guiding the Division 3 squad.

Karen Spong oversees the 15-and-Under team and this will her second season in charge of the team after she took the side to a finals appearance this season, while Jess Roll takes the reigns of the 15-and-Under Reserves, with Nat O’Dea and Kelsey Lewis named as co-coaches of the 13-and-under team and the 13-and-Under Reserves will be guided by Bec MacGugan.

Preseason begins 6 November 2024 for the senior teams while the junior team trials are scheduled for 13 and 14 November.