JESS Williamson and Kate Bligh have teamed up to form a dynamic coaching duo for the Ararat Rats' A grade netball side in 2020.
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Williamson, who was A grade captain in 2019 and has won Best and Fairest three times, will form the playing half of the pair while Kate Bligh continues to recover from a knee reconstruction.
Bligh was unable to finish out the 2019 season after a round nine knee injury.
Netball director Stacey Dale said Bligh would then join Williamson on the court around mid-season.
"Then they still may not both be on the court at the same time, but they will really have the coaching dynamic down," she said.
Related: Coach hunt is on for the Rats
The decision to appoint two coaches will help strengthen the side's strategy, Dale said.
"When you're a player and you want to coach you really need someone on the sideline to be able to watch what's happening on court," she said.
"It's just having two heads to make those tough decisions."
Dale also said that both players have "massive family connections" to the club and know it inside out.
Williamson gained some A grade coaching experience in 2017, where she was guided by Donna Spalding.
Bligh, who has played over 200 games, has been a C grade coach for "a long time".
"She's always played A grade though so she's ready to step it up," Dale said.
"Kate's very nervous but excited - they are both really pumped. Jess said it's the Chinese Year of the Rat so that means it's the year of the Rats."
The next step for the side is to hold try-outs.
"They will be held on Monday (February) 24, 27, and Monday March 2," Dale said.
"The teams will be announced pretty much the next day and then training will start pretty much straight away, because we need to be ready for that Good Friday game.
"We will also have our new courts (at Alexandra Oval) so everyone's very excited."
One player that won't be testing out the new courts is Krystal Fisher.
"She's not coming back - she's stepped away but with try-outs we're going to welcome everyone who wants to come along," Dale said.
"We have got B grade players who are ready to step up as well.
"There are a lot of younger ones coming up (through the ranks) too."
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