Sport
19 November, 2020
Liz Fowler lands Bloods top job
WHEN Liz Fowler got the call about coaching a Terang Mortlake netball side, it was not the open team she was expecting to be asked to lead.
WHEN Liz Fowler got the call about coaching a Terang Mortlake netball side, it was not the open team she was expecting to be asked to lead.
The Mortlake local accepted the Bloods’ offer to coach the open side, with Terang Mortlake announcing her appointment last Wednesday.
She admits she was not expecting to be offered the top coaching gig but is excited to be at the helm.
“I was approached a week or so ago and it probably caught me a little bit out of the blue because I’ve been coaching the juniors, it’s where my kids are involved so I was kind of expecting a request to do that,” Fowler said.
“It was the open appointment they were interested in and I had a good think about it but I was ready and the time was right.
“I’m excited about it. I’ve been there for a few years now and I know a lot of them and they’re a really good bunch to be around so I’m looking forward to it.”
Fowler has already touched base with the playing group and is already starting to plan for the future.
“I’ve made a couple of phone calls and I caught up with a lot of the girls on Saturday night at a function,” she said.
“I’ve got a lot of support from the playing group which is great. It’s across the board too, right from the open and through the four divisions.
“We’ve got a fairly young group and we have lost a couple of players from the previous couple of years so that will make a change to where the group was headed.
“It was definitely looking really strong but we’ll do a little bit of work with our juniors as well as possibly look at recruiting a couple of new players.”
Fowler has a distinctive playing history, having played for the Bloods, Mortlake, Deakin University and in the Sunraysia league.
She is set to step back into a senior role having previously coached the Sharks at senior level.
Fowler is hoping to continue the development of some aspects of past coach Lisa Arundell’s tenure, while implementing her own spin on things.
“Lisa’s put a couple of really good things in place with the group and that was working well so we’ll take onboard where the group has been and have a look at a few new things as well,” Fowler said.
“I have done some senior coaching before but probably more recently it’s been junior coaching but I think the transition will be no worries.
“I’m a little bit older and a little bit wiser and have been around netball for a fair while so I’ve got a few things I’d like to introduce as well.”
Fowler said the Bloods would look to break its norm of training after Christmas and get together before the summer break.
“In the past we’ve always done the primary part of our pre-season in late January and try-outs are done then as well,” she said.
“But I’m looking to have a couple of informal catch-ups with the girls pre-Christmas – it’ll just be a bit of a runaround and to see who’s around.
“The girls had a bit of a break for a year with COVID so everyone will be looking forward to getting back on the track I think.”