Seniors coaches Reserves - Justin Saunders, seniors - Sam Ferguson and Sean Johns alongside reserves co-coach Matt Bourke are hoping for their sides to claim ultimate glory this year.
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Les_Garbutt
The Tungamah Bears are roaring to go for season 2023 with their season to kick off on April 1 at home against Katunga.
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This season sees two new coaches at the helm of the seniors with on ballers Sam Ferguson and Sean Johns taking the reins from outgoing coach Xav Stevenson with both hoping to go one better from season 2022.
Sam played with the Bears last year, having a great season finishing equal runner up in the club best and fairest whilst also being assistant coach.
Sean makes his way to the Bears from Mulwala where he was an integral part of their midfield for the last few seasons.
“We are shaping up well. Currently we are looking similar to last year but hoping to go one better,” Sam said.
“With the change of coaches there has been a turnover of players but we have retained a fair few and topped up others.
“We have picked up about 10 new recruits and they are fitting in well.
“Josh Cheek has come over from the Wodonga Raiders, about five have moved over from Mulwala including Dylan Robinson, Brad Wilson, Cam Magher and Cam Carling, Jye Holcombe comes to us after a few years at Jerilderie and Dale Powell has returned from the Essendon and District Football League,” Sean added.
“Lots of the boys are wanting to go further and win that premiership so we are looking forward to seeing where this season leads.”
This is the first year of senior coaching for both men which brings its own challenges however the seniors have a good crew and a network off the field that also do a power of work.
“We have a great support network of assistant coaches and our leadership group so we are looking forward to the challenge,” Sean said.
“The onfield coaching dynamic will be interesting as we’re both in the middle but we will work it out with a couple of games under the belt,” Sam added.
The reserves are also in trusted hands with Matt Bourke and Justin Saunders as co-coaches.
Bourke is a crafty footballer with an impressive football brain and is stepping into the reserves coaching role this season.
Bourke will join forces with Saunders who has co-coached the reserves for the past few seasons with both men highly skilled and have been dominant players in the reserves most weeks.
The Thirds are in good hands as they will be coached by Paul Sidebottom and Troy Costigan who have over 40 years coaching experience between them and four Under 17’s premierships.
The Under 14s will this year see a trio of coaches with Tom Wren, Shan Doyle and Siti Bainikoro to all join forces and take the reigns of the fourths.
Wren has been the Junior Development Officer for the last two seasons and has also coached the Bear Cubs.
Shan was part of the coaching group last season and has developed a great bond with the current group.
Siti Bainikoro has played rugby at a national level for Fiji, so the kids will learn how to tackle correctly.
With a successful preseason and trials, Tungamah netball is also ready for the season to start.
The Bears have welcomed back several regular faces with a lot of new faces being added to the mix this year after a successful 2022 netball campaign with four premierships.
2023 Tungamah netball coaches Brodie Gissing, Jenny Buerckner, Tahnee Pearce, Chloe Elliott, Jayanna Sharp, Debbie Hayes, Bridget Saunders and Melissa Cummins are all rearing to go for this season. Not pictured is Bernadette Attwood.
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Les_Garbutt
From the premiership winning A Grade side last year, several girls have moved away so numerous others in the lower grades have stepped up although the team adds Jade Robinson from Mulwala, Amy Perry from Jerilderie and Madie Gissing returning from time in Darwin.
The junior netball sides have had fantastic numbers at training and can't wait to get back to playing with their friends as they look like they will be hard to beat this season.
On the sidelines the Bears have an exciting line up of coaches with most returning and a few new faces stepping into the roles.
The 2023 senior coaches are A Grade - Jayanna Sharp, B Grade – currently no coach, C Grade – Melissa Cummins and C Res – Bridget Saunders.
Junior coaches are Under 17s – Jayanna Sharp and Chloe Elliott, Under 15s – Jenny Buerckner and Tahnee Pearce, Under 13s – Debbie Hayes and Under 11s – Brodie Gissing and Bernadette Attwood.
“Trials are now done and dusted with a good turn up especially for the junior grades,” netball spokesperson Bridget Saunders said.
“The teams are now selected and we are getting to know each other’s game so we are ready to go for round one.
“We are hoping this year is one that the juniors have more success. It is a bit more of a rebuild for the senior netball but the juniors are looking really good.”
Returning President Josh Buerckner said the club is in a great position both on and off field with positive signs for the Bears.
“We have had pretty good numbers turn up for both the football and netball and the club as a whole is looking good,” Josh said.
“We are really happy with the juniors across the board this year with fantastic numbers turning up for both football and netball.
“We are hoping on the footy field we can go one better this year while the girls took home four premierships last year so we hope to do that again and add some more.
“The club is looking really strong with the band of volunteers and support we have.
“We’re looking forward to season 2023 and what we can do.”
The seniors and reserves will play two practice matches against Numurkah and Dookie at Jubilee Park on March 5 and 18 respectively before the season proper kicks off at Tungamah on April 1 against Katunga at home.
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