Sport
Lifelong Bear Stacey Thompson prepares for new challenge as A-grade coach of Shepparton
One look at Stacey Thompson’s lineage and it’s clear to see why she is a ready-made replacement to take on Shepparton’s A-grade coaching post.
Thompson, nee Everist, is a lifelong Bear ― her father was a club president, so was her grandfather ― and just about everyone in her family tree has thrown on the maroon and gold in one form or another.
She takes the baton off Tracey Brereton following 16 years in the race, with the former paying homage to the groundwork laid by the legendary Bears leader.
“I’ve worked with Trace for a long time and she’s done such an amazing job setting up our club to run in a certain way with a really strong culture and I look forward to continuing on with that,” Thompson said.
“We have a great bunch of juniors that we’re bringing through, so making sure that our junior development continues like it’s been going.
“I’ve been at the Bears for a very long time and it’s an exciting new challenge.”
Thompson kick-started her Bears career in 17-and-under 19 years ago.
However, after a few years in A-grade were marred by knee reconstructions, playing in the top flight became too great a mountain to climb.
So, instead, she coached.
The young Bear first took control of Shepparton’s B-grade side at 21 and, following a stint overseas, she’d return to retake her old role alongside B-reserve duties.
In 2023, her eighth year back in charge, everything fell into place.
Thompson guided Shepparton’s B-grade side to a famed premiership, beating Echuca 48-41 in the grand final after sealing the semi-final and preliminary bouts by 24 and 30 respective goals.
“That’s unheard of,” Thompson said.
“That B-grade team is an unbelievable bunch of humans that all just played for each other.
“It was such an amazing effort, particularly because we weren’t all together until the last six weeks of the year just through injuries and things.
“They were able to put it all together when it counted and they really did the job well, which is fantastic.”
Thompson said her ethos is a people-first, supportive environment ― that’s number one.
Her own experience at Shepparton ― a “really good family club” in her own words ― has left a lasting impression, and she intends to continue flying the flag to keep the close-knit feel running.
And with that, hopefully, comes the wins.
“I would love to see us in the finals mix again and hopefully go a little bit deeper.
“Keeping our young side together and hopefully bringing in a few of the older, more experienced generation and creating a great mix within our club.
“I know we’ll be competitive, but really gelling as a group and putting a team-first mentality in and going deeper into finals would be ideal.”