Experience at Eagles’ helm

Jordan Hedington will spearhead the senior Narrandera Eagles football side as coach going into the 2020 season.

The Narrandera Imperial Football Netball club welcomes a new group of coaches this year, with player numbers across all grades looking positive.

Club President Mark Savage is confident that 2020 will continue the club’s strong community focus.

“2019 was the start of a turn round for our club, where we won a number of games across all grades in our senior and junior football and netball, and saw lots of local players in our teams,” Savage said. “There was a very positive atmosphere around the club both in support for the games and on the social side of things too.

“We want to see this continue in 2020.”

Senior football coaches have been announced, with Jordan Hedington taking on the coaching role for the first grade football team. Jordan hails from Canberra, and also played in the Eagles team last year.

Young local Angus Eldridge will be coaching the Reserves players in 2020, and the club will see a co-coaching team of Joe Grinter and Isaac Bunge guiding the U17s football players.

Pre-season fitness training has been underway, with players encouraged to come along to sessions to prepare for the season ahead.

Mark Savage advised that “the NIFNC Facebook page will have the details of updated training times and days as we get closer to the season start”.

The U17s co-coaches are looking to have any boys keen to play this year to come along to the training sessions being held from 6pm on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

“The club is excited that the AFL Girls and Womens football teams will be playing in competitions this year,” Savage said.

The first match for the AFL Senior Women’s team will be Friday, February 14 in Wagga at Apex Park against the North Wagga Saints.

Senior netball will again be under the guidance of Kelly Stockdale for the 2020 season. Applications for coaches are still being accepted and details of the grading trials for players will be released soon.

The first game of the 2020 home and away series for the senior Eagles will be a home game against Collingullie on Saturday, April 18.

Eagles Junior body president Rob Hutchinson has advised the position of Junior Secretary still needs to be filled for this year. It is a role that can be performed by one person or shared by a couple of people. He encourages any person who can spare some time to give back to the juniors in this vital role to contact him.

A report on the 2020 NIFNC Junior Eagles will run in an upcoming issue.

Senior netball pre-season training is underway, at 6pm Thursdays on the outdoor courts. All those interested in playing this season are encouraged to attend.