By Tara Murray
Rockbank has had a netball coaching change just weeks out from the Riddell District Netball League season.
Nathan Selvidge will coach the A-grade side, after the Rams and big signing Alan Watson decided that they would head in different directions.
Rams general manager Gavin Sporle said a number of factors had changed since Watson’s appointment last year and it was decided this was the best way forward.
“We didn’t expect what had happened and neither did he,” Sporle said. “Players leaving made it difficult.
“At the end of the day it was a big ask for us and for him. We had to make a call.
“We said to him if you want to leave, it would be better now than in five weeks time.
“We’ve had a change of circumstances and we both think it’s the best thing. There’s no hard feelings.”
Speaking with Star Weekly, Watson also said there were no hard feelings and it was the right decision.
Selvidge, who applied for the role originally and was appointed assistant coach, has stepped into the head coaching role.
Sporle said he had already done a power of work since stepping up to ensure that they had the numbers to field A, B and C-grade sides this season.
He said they would have a very different line up to last season with the departure of several players.
Selvidge said it had been whirlwind couple of weeks since the appointment.
“There has been a few bit of support around me,” he said.
“I’ve been trying to recover and get some players to cover who we have lost by losing Alan. We have lost four or five players.
“I had a few players in mind and when it got announced and I asked them and they said yes.
“It will be a pretty decent looking squad.”
Selvidge comes into the role, having coached a few teams, while been part of state indoor and full court teams.
Last year he was selected in the under-23 Australian full court side, alongside Romsey coach Luke Marko-Rawlings.
Selvidge said with the late changes, the focus of this season was to getting everything back on track.
The Rams surprised everyone last season, making finals for the first time and going onto play in a preliminary final.
“We’ll get the balance of things right and work towards next year.
“We want to get structures in place.”
Sporle said at this stage it didn’t look like they would have an under-19s side.
He said if they could get the numbers in the next couple of weeks they would love to field a side.
He said any players of any level was welcome to come down and join the club, which is celebrating its 100th year.
