KERRIE Crawley likes to keep a busy schedule.
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The mother-of-four will juggle two family businesses with coaching commitments in 2017 after signing on to lead Terang Mortlake’s open-grade netball side.
“What’s the old saying? Busy people get busier,” Crawley said.
“We have two businesses at the moment so it’s really hard and I ummed and ahhed but thought ‘I’ll get make it work’.”
The reason for Crawley’s decision was simple.
“I am a really passionate red and blue person,” she said.
“I have always had something to do with it. I have been around the club for a long time.
“I’ve done most grades coaching, team manager, committee whatever.
“I had a three-year break to watch the boys play when they played under 18s and last year Jess Davis, who is my son’s partner, coached A1 and she asked me to be the team manager.
“I sort of got the passion going again – in the blood.
“She’s been a great help with the organisational side of things. I am not really that organised a person.”
Crawley, whose husband Jack and sons Joel, Sam and Jake are involved with the Hampden league club, will take a refreshed mindset into the season.
She will fly to America for a three-week break on Monday to see newborn granddaughter Luna.
“Kelly (Mullen) and Aimee (Arundell) have it all under control,” she said of pre-season training.
“It is going to be a real team effort and it’s been so much fun so far.”
Crawley’s daughter Jess Swanson lives in the States with her husband Jared, who works for college basketball outfit Ohio Bobcats, and their two children.
The pair met during Jared’s time as a Warrnambool Seahawks’ import in the Big V competition.
“We’ll see a few games of basketball while we’re there as well,” Crawley said.
“It is a long road with coaching – you’ve got to work your way up.
“They’ve shifted lots of places just to get to that next step.”
Crawley will return in time for the season-proper, eager to see what the youthful Bloods can produce under her tutelage.
“There’s a couple of young ones who will step in no worries – we are definitely not short of numbers,” she said.
“We’ve got good numbers which is unusual and a real positive. A lot of Mortlake kids have come over and it seems like it’s going to be an exciting year.”
Terang Mortlake finished seventh on a log-jammed 10-team ladder in 2016 – just two games outside the top four. Crawley believes outgoing coach Aimee Arundell will relish the chance to focus on playing duties.