Karen – B Grade & U13 West
I am currently working through the Elite level of Coaching Accreditation, though this has been delayed with COVID. I began coaching at club level and have had quite a variety of coaching opportunities over the years including Junior Representative teams, VNL Development teams, VNL Division 1, SEFNL Open Interleague, Melbourne University Intervarsity team, Lead Coach at Netball Vic’s Eastern Academy and coach of the Indigenous team at Worowa College in Healesville. I have also participated in and been a coach presenter at Netball Vic’s Game Development Conference. I have been Head Coach at PLNC for the past 7 years and coached across Juniors and Seniors. I’m really looking forward to seeing every one of our 10 teams play strong, skilled competitive netball and enjoy their own success on and off the court in 2024.
Matt – A Grade & U17 Prem
I have been coaching club netball for over 14 years. I have been involved in the VNL Dev squads and was appointed as the coordinator of the Jets Junior VNL program in 2015 while continuing as an apprentice coach with the VNL Championship team.
In 2018 I was appointed Head Coach of a U19 VNL Wilson Storage Southern Saints team together with coaching B Grade and U17 Red teams at PLNC. I also took on a coaching position with the Netball Victoria Central East Talent Academy Program in in 2019. In 2020 I became Head Coach of the VNL Division 1 Wilson Storage Southern Saints and Head Coach for the Vic Mens Association Mixed Open team. I was appointed Australian Mixed Open Coach in 2022, a position I still hold. This is my 2nd year coaching both U17 Blue and A Grade at Pakenham. I have my Netball Australia Advanced Coaching Accreditation.
Carly – C Grade
I have played Saturday Netball since U/13s. I love everything about it, traveling to other local clubs, playing in all weather conditions and how competitive each game is.
I have been fortunate to be a part of this great club for the past 10 years as a player, and this is my third season coaching in our Outer East League. I have also had the privilege of being in various leadership roles for our club including our 2018-2019 Club Captain, previous A Grade Captain and previous B Grade Captain. I also played in our 2019 B Grade premiership Team. I believe the key to being successful is communication, consistency, trust and teamwork.
I am proud of all amazing things we are achieving here at Pakenham and i am really excited to be coaching our C Grade team alongside Emma and can’t wait to see what the 2024 season brings.
Caity – D Grade
‘I’ve been playing netball since I was 7 or so years old, beginning all the way back at net set go! Currently I’m a championship VNL player for Southern Saints, and I have been a part of the Victorian and Australian Mixed netball side in recent years. I came to Paky in 2017 and I have never looked back, loving every moment from 17s to A grade!
My recent ACL injury has put me out of playing for the year, so I’ve taken the opportunity to include coaching in my netball repertoire, and I’m loving it. I’m super excited to see what the year has ahead and can’t wait to get out on court as a coach for D grade in 2024!’
Gabbie – 17 West
I began my netball journey with the club when I was 10 years old, playing right through juniors and up to seniors. I unfortunately suffered a car accident which stopped me playing but I dipped my toe in the water of coaching. It was an interest, but I managed to focus on getting back to playing before my body said enough is enough.
Now I’m proud to be coaching again and can’t wait to share my many years of netball experience and knowledge. I look forward to encouraging and developing the U17 West team this year.
David – D Grade
Since turning to netball in his late teens, David has had a great passion for netball. He represented Victoria for three years in the Men’s National competition, captaining Victoria U19 team on one occasion. Since then has continued to play mixed netball at every opportunity, and remains a student of the game and has recently completed his re-accreditation for his development coaching and always passionate about players taking their game to their next level and being the best they can.
He is very excited to return to D grade after the interrupted Covid seasons and currently coaches in the stadium competition. I am so excited about 2024 for D grade to see the growth of a very young team to step up and play high netball as a steppingstone to achieve their goals. Excited to see how far the D-train can go this year after their finals appearance last year.
Hayley – U15 West
I started playing with PLNC in 2013 in the U15s. I progressed to play for storm, Pakenham Power and Eastern Zone Academy. I moved into PLNC seniors and have been in B grade for the past 3 years.
I began coaching in 2015 and coached 4 stadium teams in total. I then coached the U11s blue who went on to win the 2015 winter premiership and 2016 summer premiership. I have also coached in the Saturday netball competition with the U13 White and U17 White team. I was part of the winning Premiership B Grade team in 2019 and won the AFL Outer East Goaler of the Year for B Grade.
I also achieved Goal Shooter of the Year AFLOE 2021 & PLNC Audrey Tyrrell Goaler of the Year 2021 & 2022. I look forward and am very excited for the 2024 Season.
Emma – U17 Prem & C Grade Assistant
I have been playing for PLNC since I was 11 years old.
I was selected into Netball Victoria’s central east zone academy at 16 and commenced by VNL journey with Wilson Storage Southern Saints in 2016. I played across development, U19’s and division 1 with the club until 2019. I played at Melbourne University Lightning in their open development squad from 2020-2022.
I have coached for PLNC across the junior age groups and have my netball Victoria development level coaching accreditation. Off the court I am a physiotherapist at Monash Health.
Charlotte – U15 East
I have been playing at PLNC since I was 10 years old in 2013 so 11 years this season ! Over the years I have played for Gippsland storm , PNA , Victorian Indoor and I was fortunate enough to be along side our head coach Karen Meredith at Bayside netball club.
My coaching career started in the stadium for PLNC I was alongside Jenny Burridge 5 years ago . I have coached 5 teams so far in the stadium and have been fortunate enough to win a few premierships. Last season I was alongside Karen as an assistant coach for under 15 blues . This season I’m so excited to be able to have my own team in our Saturday OE competition.
I currently play B grade at Pakenham, and I am looking forward to the season ahead and to achieve some goals.
Katie – U13 East
Katie has been coaching in our midweek stadium program for the past 7 years and 2022 saw her assistant coach in U15s to the experienced coach Mandy Hopkins. Katie is very passionate about her coaching, appreciating how extremely important quality coaching can be for a player in assisting them to improve & develop to be their best.
Katie commenced playing with PLNC in U13s & played Representative netball with Waverley City Association and Casey Netball Association and is part of the 2023 B Grade team. Katie also has played for Eastside & coached by the very experienced/ knowledgeable Sarah Collett (Vic Vixens, Performance & Pathways Coordinator, past VNL & Vic Academy Coach) and now is in her second year of playing for Eastern United on a Tuesday night at Waverley. Katie is thrilled this year to be coaching the U13 Blue and can’t wait for their journey together.