By Tara Murray
Melton Centrals is focusing on youth for next year’s Riddell District Netball League season.
Having missed finals the past two years, Centrals will continue to look within for players to step up and take on the challenge.
Randy Pereira is once again in the coaching hot seat, but he’s got company for next year’s season.
Pereira, who has indicated in the past he would like to step down from the head coaching role if the right person comes along, will continue on for at least another season after being appointed co-coach of the A, B and C-grade sides.
Doug Mitchell, who came to the club last season with his daughter Eden, will be co-coach.
Pereira said it was good to get Mitchell on board.
“Doug has been involved at Point Cook and won a few premierships at Parkville,” Pereira said.
“I had been hoping Lizzy [Masterson] was going to step up, but it didn’t work out.
“Doug and I chatted and he said he would have a think about it. Then he said he was in.
“He has a bit of humour about him.”
Pereira’s two daughters Rebecca Morabito and Taylor-Jane Pereira will again coach the under-19s.
Pereira said he would focus on developing youth.
Their top two sides would be young, with several teenagers in both sides.
“In A-grade we have one 15-year-old and two 16-year-olds,” he said.
“B-grade is pretty similar. We’ve dropped some of the older girls back to C-grade, which is pretty experienced.
“We’ve got a couple of under-17s coming up as well. The kids are right there at Centrals, you don’t want to stop them coming up.
“They just want to play netball and give back to the club. “We’re looking forward to seeing how they go against some of the VNL players.
They are young and talented, but it’s a bit different against that level.”
Pereira said they were still finalising their teams.
In a bonus for Melton Centrals, Rita White-Kay looks likely to return to the A-grade side.
Star goaler Rebecca Morabito, who came out of retirement for this season, has decided to play on, but step down to B-grade.
Pereira said he hoped that the A-grade side could again challenge for finals.
