WARRNAMBOOL Mermaids are returning to Big V division one ranks after a short-lived stay in the statewide competition's top tier.
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The Mermaids were win-less in their one championship grade campaign in 2019.
They were elevated to the premier division after a competition restructure following back-to-back grand final series victories, firstly in division two and then division one.
But, following an exodus of top-end talent and a youth-laden roster, they struggled to be competitive in the championship grade.
Louise Brown, who has coached the Mermaids for the past three Big V seasons, said the association grabbed the opportunity to return to division one.
She believes it is a grade the Mermaids can be challenge in year in, year out regardless of personnel changes.
"We're back in the division where we need to be," Brown said. "I think we can be really competitive in that level consistently.
"Going up to championship level, every team we played had two imports and we were the only team with no import."
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Brown also said it was hard to attract recruits to Warrnambool, given it is one of the Big V's country sides. She said university and work commitments also took its home-grown players to Melbourne.
"We don't retain the same players for 15 years in a row like some Melbourne clubs which have girls play 200 or 250 games for them," Brown said.
"You don't see that in Warrnambool, only sometimes when they come back to Warrnambool from uni."
Brown, who is undecided on her coaching future, said the Mermaids could be a force in division one.
"I'm not saying we're going to win every game at that level but all you want is to be competitive and we weren't competitive in championship division," she said.
"We were getting 50 or 60-point thrashings and that is not enjoyable for anyone and the kids (playing) don't get anything out of it."
The Mermaids and their male counterparts, the Seahawks, are yet to appoint coaches for the 2020 Big V season.
Many of the two rosters' players are suiting up in the Country Basketball League summer competition.
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