This season’s Kyabram District League Coach of the Year Steve Lawlor will again be in charge of the senior football side, while Olivia Jackson will lead the club’s A-grade netballers again.
Lawlor will be in charge for a fifth year after being promoted to the top job in 2018 after leading the Bulldogs’ reserves to the 2017 premiership.
In 2018 Lawlor lifted Merrigum to seventh place, only missing the top six and finals by percentage.
It was a similar scenario in 2019 with the Bulldogs again missing a finals berth by percentage.
Merrigum had been in the finals mix again this season, before it was cancelled.
Merrigum’s football operations manager Aaron Moor said many of the Bulldogs’ players had committed to playing with the club next year and talks were continuing with prospective recruits.
Merrigum is currently seeking coaches for its reserves and thirds football sides.
This season’s reserves coach John Mathieson and under-18 coach Shane McLennan are stepping down.
Moor said his club was grateful for the input of Mathieson and McLennan in another trying season.
Anyone interested in the reserves and under-18 coaching positions at Merrigum can phone Aaron Moor on 0408 097 017.
The club is also looking for a junior development officer which could even tie in with the role of under-18 coach.
Jackson led Merrigum to what would have been an A-grade finals berth this season with the team finishing strongly with comprehensive wins and close finishes against the top sides when the COVID-19 pandemic ended the season.
Jackson was able to call on her Victorian Netball League experience and the club was happy with what she achieved in her first year of coaching the Bulldogs.
She didn’t play much in 2021 due to injury, however, with some serious rehab under way she can become a more permanent on-court fixture in 2022.
Jackson is currently recruiting and hopes to have some announcements in the coming weeks on additions to the A-grade team.
There was a wealth of talent in this season’s team with captain Kate Sloan finishing third in the count for this season’s Warren Medal.
Sloan’s on-court leadership was second to none and her role was integral to the success the team enjoyed.
Georgia Braybon, Millie Lowe and Siarn Pedretti were big inclusions in this year’s side with Pedretti’s control of the midcourt and her experience making a huge difference to the attacking end.
Braybon has moved to the Gold Coast, so won’t be with the club in 2022, however, there is excitement at what the partnership of Lowe and Pedretti can achieve next year.
Local youngsters Allana Adams, Breanna Baker and Maddy Wilson had stellar seasons.
Adams found a new position at wing defence and didn’t disappoint with impeccable timing on the defensive line.
With Sloan they made a fantastic defensive duo on the transverse line.
Baker, the league’s 2019 Rising Star was outstanding at goal keeper until injury cut her season short.
Experience, toughness and leadership is what you get with Louise Richards.
Richards was in the 2021 team, but her injury meant Baker was a permanent fixture at goal keeper.
However, Baker showed her versatility by also having a crack at centre which she took in her stride and was outstanding in this foreign position.
Wilson grew as a player and was running the centre like a seasoned A-grader by season’s end.
Her natural talent is amazing and the club is looking forward to what its younger players after a season or two in A-grade can now bring to the 2022 line-up.
The club will be recruiting for B, C, C-reserve, under-17, under-15, under-13 and under-11 coaches for next season.
Those interested can apply for these coaching positions via email by contacting netball operations manager Kathie Dawson at merrigumnetball@gmail.com by Sunday, October 31.
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