Stephanie Vick is about to start the third year of her coaching career with Echuca’s A-grade Goulburn Valley League netball team and she has one hope, no interruptions.
"My entire senior coaching experience has been during the pandemic to this point. In 2020 we didn’t get to play a single game, even though we did a full pre-season,’’ Vick said.
“Fortunately we stayed connected throughout most of the year.”
Last season, when Vick spent all but one match on the sidelines due to her being pregnant with son Isaac, the team played 13 games — losing only one of those and finishing second, on percentage, to Shepparton United at the end of the home and away season.
“We did have the opportunity to play them again and we won that one,” she said.
Vick, who grew up in Echuca-Moama and has only recently returned with her football playing husband Josh, said she would have expected her 2021 team to have done well come finals — given the chance.
“Our big aim this year is to enjoy every single week that we get to play together. Being at our best and hopefully at the end of that process there are some rewards,” she said.
Vick will be an on-court leader this year, cast in a midcourt or defensive role.
There will be a new look to the team as family commitments, pregnancy and a variety of other reasons force a revamp of the A-grade team.
"Probably half of our team from last year are no longer playing.
“We haven’t selected our teams yet, but we have a squad of 28 players that will fill the A-grade, B-grade and B-reserve teams,” she said.
Her husband will be playing this season at Moama, where close friend Sam Sheldon is coaching
“He has tried to retire four times, but because he is close to Sam he has decided to play at Moama,” Vick said.
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