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Spotlight: Eagles coach’s 200th game the latest milestone in storied career

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My ball: Remy Day in action for Echuca United. Photo: Steve Huntley. Photo by Steve Huntley

From under-12s to A-grade coach, 20-year-old Remy Day has already packed so much into her 200-game career for Echuca United.

Day boasts a strong Murray Netball League resume, one that has been enhanced further following her 200th club game for Echuca United.

Day saluted the double ton earlier this season against Cobram, and in doing so joined an exclusive club of Eagles netballers to reach the mark.

Now standing as one of the three A-grade coaches at United alongside Elle Molluso and Jess Saunders, Day’s affiliation began in under-12s at just eight years of age.

“My family are very oriented at the Eagles,” Day said.

“I began back when United used to have under-12s, so that’s where I started.

“Some of them have moved off now, but Dad played for United, Mum did as well, my uncle and auntie played and so did two of my cousins.

“We have made a lot of connections that made us want to stay — there are a lot of good people at the club.”

Day has just about done it all at Echuca United. A premiership player, club best-and-fairest, and now coach of the A-grade side, she points to United’s seven-peat of netball premierships in 2015 as a highlight of her career.

And for good reason — Day notched three herself on that fateful day for the Eagles.

“The year we won seven out of seven was pretty special,” Day said.

“I won a couple that day, including a premiership with my cousin.

“I took part in the under-15 and C-grade flags, and I took the court in the last 10 minutes of A-grade.”

Big day: Remy Day (left) celebrates her 50-game A-grade milestone alongside Dakota Lucic and Jessica Davidson during the 2021 season. Photo: Steve Huntley Photo by Steve Huntley

Making her senior netball debut in B-grade in 2015, it wasn’t long before Day’s strength as an attacking mid-courter saw her elevated to the A squad in the same season while still plying her trade as under-15 player.

Day’s talent was recognised in 2017 with a Murray Netball League Rookie of the Year accolade and in 2019 she tasted the ultimate MNL glory as a member of the Eagles’ A-grade premiership side.

Two senior best-and-fairest’s — one in A-grade and B-grade — alongside three junior accolades also make for impressive individual reading.

Now, Day has now moved into the realm of coaching, admitting it’s been a challenging task as local sport emerges from the COVID-19 darkness.

“Coaching’s been pretty tough,” Day said.

“We’re going through a bit of a rebuilding stage and especially after COVID it’s been pretty tough.

“Just with the world that we live in now, numbers have been tough each week, which is something other clubs have struggled with. Some weeks we’ll have 10 players — other weeks we might have six.

“With the experience of Elle Florance and Jess Saunders, however, it’s been pretty exciting just listening to what they need to say.

“We’ve got a lot of young players coming through, which is really good for the future. The experience is good for those girls who haven’t played much A-grade.”

As a young coach, Day said she thrived off the experience of one of her fellow leaders, one who had been a consistent figure in her career.

“I’ve had a lot of coaches, but Elle has been a key for me because she’s been there the entire time,” Day said.

“Through juniors, through the premierships, and now coaching with her as well. She’s an incredible netball player and one of the nicest people you could meet.”

It’s been a strong career to date for the Eagles stalwart, and Day will continue to be one of the club’s key drivers.

Echuca United bring their season to a close this Saturday against Barooga at Echuca South Recreation Reserve.