One of the Goulburn Valley’s most decorated netball personnel has been appointed to the helm of Lancaster’s A-grade side for a second time.
Michelle Hill, who coached the Wombats in their 2022 campaign, is back in the top job after a year away.
Hill boasts impeccable pedigree in her accomplishments across the region as a player and coach in Kyabram District League and beyond.
She played a starring role for Kyabram in the Goulburn Valley League, amassing a multitude of premierships in both roles.
She would collect best-and-fairest medals for the Bombers and Wombats alike, earning league medal recognition on her way, then took up Lancaster coaching with the 15-and-under side in 2019.
Her intentions as the reappointed A-grade coach in 2024 are anything but self-serving, though.
“I just want to see the club back in finals, basically,” Hill said.
“When I was playing we made the finals most years and Lancaster netball has done well to get that far most seasons.
“I want to make them successful.”
It is the close-knit nature of the Lancaster club environment, however, which Hill cites as the main allure that brought her back into the fold.
“I just like the family feel of the club, where it feels like netball and football are intertwined rather than stand-alone,” Hill said.
“Everyone gets along and it’s a really good club to be around.
“With Lancaster they (the players) seem to stick around more and they get more involved.”
There would be no shared fortunes on Lancaster’s two main fronts in 2023, though, with the A-grade side falling to a 5-11 record, while the senior footballers romped to a premiership.
Hill will no doubt be counting on the familiarity of only missing one season and thus working with a similar playing group.
With that said, her work with the Wombats’ 15-and-under side four years ago will maintain an influence on the job.
“A lot of those juniors are still there and hopefully they’ll be in the side next year,” Hill said.
“I want to bring some junior development to the club, on and off the court.
“I don’t want people travelling long distances. I think locals playing at local clubs would be wonderful.”