BOTH Carly Pulling and Jess O’Connor had individually decided coaching their beloved Koroit together was on the agenda long before they’d spoken a word about the subject.
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A conversation over dinner sewed up the deal, with the duo replacing premiership coach Kasey Owen at the helm after an all-conquering season.
Pulling, who has family roots at both Koroit and Merrivale, revealed she was thrilled to work alongside a close friend in O’Connor.
“To be honest, I don’t think either of us gave it much thought,” Pulling laughed.
“I think we both sort of had the idea put in our heads separately and we hadn’t spoken about it. Then one night we came together and had dinner, and Jess looked at me and said ‘are we going to do this?’.
“To have an opportunity like this – it’s something you don’t have to think about for long. It’s pretty straightforward.”
Pulling, a goal attack by trade, will join O’Connor in a playing capacity.
O’Connor capped a stellar 2017 with the Hampden league best-and-fairest, while Pulling steered Koroit’s division two side to a grand final berth.
Koroit netball executive Maree Lane said both Pulling and O’Connor had distinguished netball resumes.
“Their personalities fit really well together,” Lane said.
“Jess and Carly are perfect for what we need – they have proven capabilities to develop young players and also know how to work with and to get the most out of experienced players.”
