Warrnambool Blues' new netball senior coach Lorraine English (second from left) with players Danielle McLeod, Emily-Rose Finningan and Emma O'Keeffe. English brings 20 years of interstate netball coaching, management and development experience to her role. 100129AM31 Picture: ANGELA MILNE
LORRAINE English says she doesn't mind her netball charges being attractive - so long as their on-court performance is top priority."They're there to play," the newest addition to Warrnambool Football Netball Club's coaching team said."It's just like any sport. ''And you can't wear jewellery playing netball."English will lead the Blues senior netball side this year. Her appointment is a coup for the club.Before coming to the city she was and Netball Western Australia development manager, taking players and coaches under her wing. English also coached state teams in Queensland and worked for the Sunshine State's academy of sport.Despite entering a slower phase of a career that has spanned 20 years, English said she was thrilled to lead the Blues."It's great just to go to back to coaching again. I'm returning to grass roots level, which is fantastic."But English is set to make some tough decisions in the lead-up to round one of the Hampden league home-and-away season.At least 30 women will be vying for a senior spot ."I understand there is always a very good turn-out here (WFNC)," she said. "The club has good depth and there is more potential to develop players in coming years." The Blues have held their first trial with two apologies from a pair of high-profile Hampden League players.Mid-court dynamo Siobhan Sefton, who played for Terang Mortlake last season, and goaler Sarah Hearn, who lined up for Koroit, were not able to make the session. English said there was only one key to winning and that was hard work. She likened victories to interest on a savings account."It's like a bank, if you put in you are rewarded with interest. If you have a belief in what you are doing and put in hard work, then wins will come."English was originally from Townsville and said Warrnambool was a change to her previous post in Western Australia."It's certainly different," she said. ''But it is a very good league here and Victoria is known for having good quality netball. During the week, English will be a familiar face at Warrnambool's Archie Graham Community Centre, where she has taken on a co-ordinator's role for active ageing.