Tara Murray
New Diggers Rest coach Anica Wilson was keen to get back involved with the Riddell District Netball League club.
Part of the Burras breakthrough A-grade premiership in 2022, Wilson stepped up last season as she looked to travel.
The club and netball proved to be something she missed while she was away and she has now been appointed the club’s A-grade coach.
“I’m really excited,” she said. “I took a year off to travel and I’m excited to be back.
“I did come back around finals time. I missed the environment and being around the girls and the footy club.
“We had a successful year winning [footy] premierships and just being around the club and seeing the girls and boys again, it was really exciting.”
Wilson said the move into coaching was a natural progression in her netball career.
Wilson previously played in the Victorian Netball League and was one of the star defenders of the RDNL competition, having been named in the team of the year on a number of times.
“I’ve done a bit of coaching a few years ago with the Sunbury Netball Association and I think this is a bit of a natural progression,” she said.
“I think it’s about being able to create a good club culture with the football and netball and hopefully having a bit more success.
“There’s some younger players coming through by the looks of it so it will be good to help them develop locally in netball and in general in the wider community.”
Wilson said at this stage it was unlikely that she would play but there had been some interest from former players in returning.
The Burras A-grade side finished eighth last year, but the B-grade side made it through to a preliminary final.
Last season’s A-grade coach Rach Reeves will coach the B-grade side, while Erin Wallace will coach C-grade and Peta Kendall will look after the under-19s.
The club held the first of its trials on Thursday night, with the second to be held this Thursday.
Wilson said there had been some good interest ahead of the trials.
She said they were hoping to have some more success at the club.
“It will be good to retain some players and hopefully get some new girls on board as well,” she said.
“The numbers are looking good with those who have registered.”
Anyone interested in playing can contact Caitlin on, 0403 707 354.
