By Tara Murray
New Darley netball coach Di McCormack is excited for the challenge that is ahead of her in the Ballarat Netball League.
The Devils announced last week that the experienced McCormack would be their head netball coach and would take the reigns of the A and B grade sides.
For McCormack, it’s a new challenge having coached Rupertswood in the Riddell District Netball League the past seven years.
McCormack had wanted to continue on at Rupertswood, but the Sharks committee decided to head in a different direction.
McCormack had been head coach of the Sharks netball program for all of its existence.
In that time they were one of the powerhouses of the competition, winning 15 premierships in the past six years, including the A-grade premiership this year.
McCormack said she was excited to get the opportunity at Darley.
“I had wanted to stay at Rupertswood, but after seven years it’s good to have a new challenge,” she said.
“They [Darley] finished bottom this year and it’s an opportunity to build from scratch and start over.”
McCormack has also been involved in the Victorian Netball League for a number of years and coached zone academies.
She has coached some of the existing Darley players through the academies and said she was excited to work with them again.
McCormack said conversations with Devils netball co-ordinator Hayley Inglis had been positive and that they were all on the same page.
Darley has struggled on the court in recent years.
This year they had no side play finals, with their A-grade side winning just one game. Seventh spot, in 2013, is their best result in A-grade in the past seven years.
“They want to see a strong netball program going forward,” McCormack said.
She said several players from Rupertswood have indicated that they were going to trial for the Devils’ teams.
She said like her, they were ready and excited for a new challenge.
“We’re really excited and we think it will be great. We’ll be the best club people we can be.”
The Devils will hold trials on December 5 for any interested players.
