Re-signed premiership coach reunited with long-time mentor

Reappointed A grade coach Steph Townsend has been reunited with her former coach Lisa Arundell, who will take on the club's new coaches mentor role.

They won a premiership together at Old Collegians in 2013 when Arundell was coach and Townsend a player.

"I've always seen her as my mentor," Townsend said.

"I have a lot of respect for Lisa and she has a lot of respect from everyone at Nirranda."

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Arundell, who coached Terang Mortlake's open grade side for the past three years in the Hampden league, will mentor all Nirranda's netball coaches.

"Lisa and I see junior development as a big thing," Townsend said.

Arundell said she was honoured to be asked to take on the new part-time position.

She explained she had originally intended to take a year off coaching after stepping down as the Bloods' top-grade mentor earlier this year.

She said she stood down from full-time coaching to spend more time with family.

"I absolutely loved every minute I spent at Terang Mortlake and I'll still get to some games next year," she said.

"If only I could pick the club up and move it closer to me (Dennington).

"It was with a huge amount of regret I stepped down this year.

"Family has to come first."

Arundell said her role would be to liaise with the Blues' coaches and give them feedback.

"I'll be available via phone and face-to-face," she said.

"It'll very much be a two-way street for the coaches to get as much out of it as they want.

"Obviously, it's a new role so it'll evolve though the season and I'm really looking forward to it."

Jo Couch will again be the Blues assistant coach in 2021.

She returned to the club ahead of the 2020 season which was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Townsend said she and Couch were on the same page about the direction they would like to take the team.

"She's got a fantastic netball brain and played in some quality sides in different leagues," Townsend said.

The Blues have no new recruits but Townsend is confident they have the depth to challenge for the flag again.

"The best thing about Nirranda is everyone has worked really hard over the past five years to create depth at the club," she said.

"We're not looking for too much because we have that depth."

Nirranda will be without Chelsea Adams who it picked up from Koroit ahead of the 2020 season.

Townsend said Chelsea's family had moved to Darwin with younger sister Zahli pursuing a netball opportunity.

Jo Couch will also coach the A reserve side. Lisa Couch will mentor the B grade team with Emma Keogh as her assistant. Junior coaches will be announced soon.

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