Netball Victoria has announced its coaching panel for the 2026 National Netball Championships, with a blend of returning experience and rising talent set to lead the Victorian 19/U and 17/U state teams.
After guiding the team to a silver medal earlier this year, Adrian ‘AJ’ Ballantyne has re-signed as head coach of the 19/U team. With a decorated coaching career spanning community, Victorian Netball League (VNL) and state level, Ballantyne brings invaluable insight and continuity to the role.
Ballantyne has been a fixture in Netball Victoria’s coaching pathway since 2013, having held assistant roles with both the 17/U and 19/U teams prior to his 2025 head coach appointment. He is also the current Championship head coach at Hawks Netball in the VNL.
Joining him as assistant coach will be Kath Knott, who has held coaching roles in the state team program since 2016, and also served as a specialist coach with the Vixens Academy in SN Reserves earlier this year. A former elite player with the Melbourne Vixens, Knott’s technical knowledge and leadership experience make her a strong addition to the 19/U program.
The 19/U panel will be completed by Eliza Allen, who steps into the apprentice coach position. Allen, an emerging coach in Netball Victoria’s development pathways, will continue to build her experience under the guidance of Ballantyne and Knott.
For the 17/U side, Belinda Lees will move into the head coach position, following a year as 19/U assistant coach and extensive involvement with Netball Victoria’s Talent Academy. Based in Moama, Lees brings both a high performance mindset and a strong background in leadership, wellbeing, and athlete development.
Appointed as assistant coach is Monique Lenehan-Moustafa, who impressed as an apprentice in 2025. With a growing portfolio across both coaching and education, Lenehan-Moustafa has worked extensively in the VNL with Hawks Netball, and as an assistant coach with the Netball Victoria Talent Academy.
Rounding out the 17/U coaching team is Courtney McLean, appointed apprentice coach. McLean will gain valuable experience working alongside Lees and Lenehan-Moustafa, continuing her development within Netball Victoria’s elite coaching pathway.
Netball Victoria’s General Manager – High Performance and Pathways, Sharelle McMahon said:
“We’re thrilled to welcome back AJ after a successful campaign, and equally excited to see Belinda step into the 17/U head coach role following her years of dedicated service to our programs,” said McMahon.
“Kath and Monique bring a wealth of experience and leadership, while Eliza and Courtney represent the next generation of coaching talent in our sport.
“This group embodies the values of Victorian netball, and we’re confident they’ll provide our athletes with the environment they need to perform and thrive.”
The 2026 National Netball Championships will showcase the country’s best emerging talent across the 17/U and 19/U age groups. The competition has played a crucial role in the pathway journeys of many past and present Suncorp Super Netball and Australian Diamonds players.
In 2025, Victoria’s 19/U team took home the silver medal while the 17/U side claimed bronze.
Victoria’s preparations for the 2026 National Netball Championships are underway, following recent pathway events including the Association Championships and State Titles, where athletes were talent identified and invited to trial. Selection trials will take place in the coming months.
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