Netball Victoria has appointed an experienced coaching panel to lead the Victorian state teams set to contest the 2023 National Netball Championships.
Wendy Jacobsen (19/Under) and Tracey Brereton (17/Under) will return, leading their respective squads off the back of a podium finish for both teams in Hobart earlier this year.
Both head coaches are products of the Victorian netball pathway themselves, Jacobsen having played for the Melbourne Phoenix and Melbourne Vixens and Brereton for the Melbourne Kestrels.
Jacobsen’s coaching experience extends from her current role as Coaching Director of VNL club Boroondara Express, to the Victorian Fury in the Australian Netball League and Suncorp Super Netball level with Collingwood Magpies.
An experienced coach at state team level and fresh from assisting the Victorian Fury at this year’s Australian Netball Championships where Fury claimed the silver medal, Brereton was awarded her elite coaching accreditation in 2022.
Jacinta Todd brings a wealth of experience to the 19/Under assistant coach role having previously coached the Victorian 17/Under team, and led City West Falcons to the VNL Championship title this year.
Joining the program as assistant coach of the 17/Under team, Adrian Ballantyne is a former elite men’s and mixed netball player who has coached with Netball Victoria’s Talent Academy program, been an apprentice coach with the state team program and this year coached Hawks Netball’s Division 1 team to the 2022 VNL title.
“We’re pleased to announce the appointment of our coaching panel heading into 2023, and to have such high calibre people leading our state program,” said Netball Victoria General Manager, Vixens, Performance and Pathways, Megan Simpson.
“The Victorian netball pathway is thriving, and we know this group of coaches has the experience and knowledge to develop our talented young athletes and build on our state’s culture of success.”
VICTORIAN STATE TEAM COACHES
19/Under
Head Coach – Wendy Jacobsen
Assistant Coach – Jacinta Todd
17/Under
Head Coach – Tracey Brereton
Assistant Coach – Adrian Ballantyne
