Numurkah has gone back to its past in the hope of a brighter future with a new A-grade coaching appointment.
The Blues, who finished second-bottom in a dismal 2024 Murray Netball League campaign, have secured a significant coup with the appointment of Laura Ryan as their A-grade boss.
Ryan has been flying up north at Yarrawonga, having helped steer the Pigeons to last season’s Ovens and Murray A-grade premiership.
Far from content with just the team success in the Yarrawonga set-up, Ryan has represented the black and yellow in competition against the Goulburn Valley League, further going on to earn herself a place in the 2023 and 2024 Ovens and Murray teams of the season.
As her partner Jordan O’Dwyer slots in to fill one of two senior co-coaching spots at the club, the former Blues junior suggests everything fell into place to make now the time.
“Numurkah has always kept in touch with me since I left the club as a junior to gain experience,” Ryan said.
“We’ve been in discussions really over the past three seasons in regards to playing and potentially coaching.
“I’ve certainly always been a person who is passionate about playing the best netball I can, but the timing just felt right after a successful year at Yarrawonga.
“I’m really excited to join Jordan back at the club and spend more time with family and friends who are around too.
“It’ll be a busy and challenging, yet fun year, as Jordan and I both take senior coaching roles.”
In the days since Ryan’s return to her roots was confirmed, she has been followed back in the door by two other former netballing Blues and their footballing partners, including 2014 A-grade premiership player Emily Buzza.
For the incoming boss, there could be no more encouraging sign.
“What I love about a club like Numurkah is that all of the signings we’ve had in the netball space to date are past players of the club,” Ryan said.
“Many are joining us as families and are friends of current players or club people.
“I’m not naive to the fact that it will take more than one season to achieve what other people count as success, but for Numurkah, for now, it’s a focus on continuing to add to our lists and develop our juniors.
“The club as a whole is experiencing a bit of a rebuild phase; my main objective is to strengthen the depth that we have overall, which helps us to be more competitive through all grades.
“Certainly no single player is going to be enough to send a team back up the ladder, but the vision that the club and I have is that my return will encourage more great players and people back to the club.”
Having not experienced top-level Murray league competition in the flesh, it does remain something of an unknown quantity for Ryan despite her excellence elsewhere.
“I’m excited for the challenge ahead and to see what Murray netball has to offer,” Ryan said.
“There are certainly a lot of talented netballers throughout the league at the moment, many who I have played with or against over the years.
“I think as a whole, in both footy and netball, the league is really competitive and in a great spot, so I’m looking forward to being a part of Numurkah and the league as well again.”
Elsewhere in the Murray league, Congupna’s netball department has re-signed the mother and daughter duo which oversaw The Road’s 2024 campaign.
Wendy and Sophie Sidebottom are sticking around to go again after a season which had some improvement late on, with Congupna claiming its last two games to finish with a 5-13 record.
Finally, the Bendigo Strikers have started to rapidly roll out the re-signing news after a competitive first foray into the Victorian Netball League, with a couple of locals earning their place once more.
Rochester star Teal Hocking and Tongala goaler Milly Brock have secured spots on the upstart side’s Championship roster for 2025.