INCOMING Warrnambool coach Krystal Day is expecting her third child today and is also hoping to give birth to a new netball era at the Blues.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Day, who is scheduled to be induced this morning, has stepped up to coach the Hampden league team one year after joining the Reid Oval-based club.
She mentored the Blues’ A2 outfit in 2014, combining that with playing duties at Warrnambool and District league club Dennington.
Day, 31, has now committed solely to the Blues as she tries to help the club re-emerge as a finals contender after two bleak seasons.
Her connection with Dennington helped lure former Blue Marlie Boyd back to Warrnambool as a playing assistant.
Boyd, 21, spent two seasons at the Dogs, winning the league’s A grade best and fairest last year.
Day said the pair would help each other in their new roles and were excited to work together.
She said Boyd was a dominant goal attack who had leadership qualities.
“We got Marlie on board and asked her to step up and she’s more than capable,” Day said.
Day, who expects to play at a level below A grade, said taking on the Blues’ top job was slightly daunting.
But she said it was a chance to develop her mentoring skills and work with a youth-laden list.
“I coached at Dennington. I coached the A reserves and then I coached the A2 here last year,” she said.
“It’s a big step up.
“It is a really talented, young side so I see my role as guiding them.
“I think they only won three games last year (but we can) definitely play finals with the side we’ve got.
“We just want it to be positive for the whole three sides really; a friendly atmosphere.” Warrnambool’s announcement leaves South Warrnambool as the only club yet to appoint an A grade coach for next season.
Day said it was getting harder and harder for clubs to find coaches, pointing out a number of new faces in leadership roles for the upcoming campaign.
“It was an opportunity and I thought I’d definitely give it a go,” she said.
Boyd will travel home from Ballarat, where she is studying primary school teaching, to play for the Blues.
She is excited to be back at Reid Oval.
“They are a young side so I just really wanted to come and help out,” she said.
Warrnambool started pre-season training in November and will expand its schedule from one night to twice-weekly sessions next week.
Day, who has two sons Kai, 3, and Jet, 1, expects to return to the club next week after the birth of her latest child.
justine.mc@fairfaxmedia.com.au
