Australian TT coaches ready to roll in 2008

Wednesday, September 19, 2007 By Netball Australia

With all five Australian Tasman Trophy coaches now appointed, discussions are underway across the country with prospective players as the race to recruit ‘dream teams’ for next year’s challenging debut season of the competition hots up.
The teams from NSW, Victoria, South Australia, Queensland and Western Australia, have selected experienced coaches to launch their charge on the inaugural 2008 Tasman Trophy title.

Heading the coaching group is NSW’s Julie Fitzgerald who steered Sydney TAB Swifts to four Commonwealth Bank Trophy titles, former England and Fiji national coach and 2005 Commonwealth Bank Trophy championship winning coach, Julie Hoornweg and former Australian captain and rising star in the coaching ranks, Vicki Wilson . Western Australia’s Sue Gaudion , who took the helm of Perth Orioles in 2006 and South Australia’s Jane Woodlands also made their impact as coaches at state 21/U level.

The appointment of coaches was a critical stage in the development of the Tasman Trophy teams and Netball Australia’s Chief Executive Kate Palmer is thrilled with the calibre of the coaches.

“Tasman Trophy will be a whole new world for the coaches as they recruit and blend new faces into their line ups and prepare game plans for international travel,” Palmer said.
“They will face pressures of preparing athletes for international rivalry and parochial New Zealand crowds, plus the challenge of the New Zealand game styles and tactics.”

Australian coach Norma Plummer said she wished the coaches every success in the debut season of the competition.

“The national program is there to support these coaches. I look forward to assisting where I can and working closely with each of the Tasman Trophy coaches,” Plummer said.

The new Tasman Trophy Netball League begins next year, bringing together five teams from Australia and five teams from New Zealand to compete in an action-packed 17-week season from April until July.

It replaces the Commonwealth Bank Trophy in Australia and National Bank Cup in New Zealand.

2008 TASMAN TROPHY COACHES - AUSTRALIA

Julie Fitzgerald - New South Wales
With a wealth of elite coaching experience, Fitzgerald will coach the NSW team following an esteemed 11-year career with Sydney TAB Swifts in the Commonwealth Bank Trophy. Fitzgerald was head coach of the Sydney TAB Swifts from 1997-2007, winning four premiership titles in 2001, 2004, 2006, 2007.

Sue Gaudion - Western Australia
Gaudion joined the Perth Orioles in 2006 with impressive credentials including coaching Western Australia to a 21/U national championship title in 2005 and guiding the South East Demons to a premiership in the WA State League.

Julie Hoornweg - Victoria
At the helm of Melbourne First National Phoenix for three years from 2005-07, Hoornweg took the club to a Commonwealth Bank Trophy championship title in her first year in 2005, and guided the team to a semi-final appearance in 2006 and grand final in 2007. This experienced campaigner has international credentials, coaching Fiji at the 1999 World Championships in Christchurch and a stint as national coach of England.

Vicki Wilson - Queensland
Australian netball legend, Vicki Wilson is Queensland’s most successful coach after taking the Queensland Firebirds to their first-ever Commonwealth Bank Trophy finals appearance in her inaugural coaching year in 2006. This year, Wilson guided her young side to a fifth placing, narrowly missing out on a finals appearance on percentage. In a stellar international career, Wilson captained the Australian Netball Team from 1996-1999. The talented goal shooter played 104 Test Caps and is the only Australian player to have competed at four World Netball Championships.

Jane Woodlands – South Australia
A former Medibank Adelaide Thunderbirds assistant coach, Woodlands has taken on the combined full time role as Sports High Performance Manager and coach of the South Australian team in the Tasman Trophy. Currently SA 21/U coach, Woodlands was also a Queensland Firebirds specialist coach.

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