Outgoing Roosters coachstriving for strong last finals run

ANNIE McCartin has many fond memories from her thirteen seasons spent at North Ballarat.

Over the next month or so, she will be hoping to add a few more as she plots another deep finals run with the Roosters.

This year’s finals series will mark the end of an era at North Ballarat, the last with McCartin at the helm of the A-grade team.

The astute and affable five-time premiership coach has been informed that her contract, which expires at the end of the 2025 season, will not be renewed, with the Roosters looking to go in a ‘new direction’ with their netball program.

Like most things in life, McCartin has taken the news in her stride.

“That’s the club’s decision, not to renew my contract. They want to go in a different direction with the netball, so that’s the end of me,” she said.

“I still have wonderful memories – it’s been unbelievable.

“The girls that have made their way into the pathway at North and the achievements we made as a group of girls, I look back and think gee whiz, how fortunate were we?

“Things are changing now. Your bigger clubs are recruiting VNL players. But going back to my time at North, I have always just developed the young juniors coming through.

“It’s all changing and it’s a sign of the times. It’s not always just the juniors coming through, clubs are looking for players that will help them get a flag.”

McCartin, who joined the Roosters following a long association with Brown Hill Netball Club and before that St Aloysius, led the Roosters to BFNL A-grade premierships in 2015, 2018, 2019, 2022 and 2023.

They only narrowly missed out on making grand finals in 2014 and 2024.

If not for COVID, that record of premiership success could easily have been more impressive, with no season in 2020 due to the pandemic and the 2021 season eventually being cancelled.

While there is still a bit to play out this season, McCartin cast doubt on a coaching move elsewhere.

“I don’t think I’d go anywhere else…North’s always been home,” she said.

 

“Thirteen years…I’ve enjoyed it all at North and I couldn’t see myself starting all over again.

“To be honest, I’m still processing it all. It’s still very new, so I’ll just think about things.”

While a sixth premiership would be a dream come true, McCartin – ever the realist – acknowledged few departing coaches got to go out with a fairytale finish.

“That’s going to be hard, but we will give it a good crack,” she said with a laugh.

North Ballarat will head into the penultimate round in fourth spot, having slipped following last Saturday’s three-goal loss to Redan, which capped a big two weeks, including a 12-goal win over Darley, by moving up to third.

The in-form Lions capitalised on a bright start to lead by five goals at quarter-time.

It was the same margin at three-quarter-time, before the Roosters rallied for one last surge, with the Lions holding firm for a crucial 53-50 victory.

While the margin was much closer than their previous meeting in June, Redan has beaten North Ballarat twice this season.

Despite the loss, McCartin still drew plenty of positives from the performance, particularly the form of young goal attack Georgia Bodey, who again shone in the absence of Poppy Douglass (overseas).

“Redan’s defenders Erin (Riley) and Ash (Smith) are very tall, but Georgia wasn’t fazed by it,” she said.

“She shot well and moved well.

“Stacey (Matthews) and Brydi (Hutchinson) fed the ball nicely; driving the ball in and they were patient and calm with their feeds.

“Maddy (Selmon) had a fair bit of attention on her, but as the game wore on, she found her space and shooting mojo.

“But from the outset, Georgia was on a mission and accomplished it. It was a great game for her.”

McCartin paid full credit to Redan for a strong game and indicated the Lions were playing as well as any team in the finals race right now.

The Roosters will look to bounce back against Sebastopol this Saturday, while Redan faces another finals contender in Lake Wendouree, who finished within six goals of Sunbury after trailing by only one at half-time and three-quarter-time.

In the other game with implications on top six positions this weekend, fifth-placed Bacchus Marsh hosts Sunbury.