Danielle McInerney to coach Koroit's open netball team in 2021

McInerney, 42, has mentored Saints' junior teams for the past five seasons and wants to blood some of the club's emerging talent in the top grade in 2021.

The 2012 Merrivale A grade premiership-winning coach has taken on the Saints' top job, replacing Stacey O'Sullivan.

McInerney inherits team which has won the past three Hampden league open grade flags (2017, '18 and '19).

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Coronavirus restrictions forced the cancellation of the 2020 season and put Koroit's quest for a fourth straight premiership on hold.

But blooding youth is McInerney's main goal, with the experienced leader saying "as long as we're competitive, I am not going to think about how successful we've been over the past few years".

"I have been coaching the juniors out there for about five seasons now," she said.

"Our list looks like it's going to be a lot of juniors as well and that really excites me because I do really love working with the juniors.

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"We are so lucky because we have so many good ones at the moment so that was part of my reasoning for wanting to do it.

"I know so many of them so well. There are probably about 12 who are on our A1 and open list that are under the age of 17."

McInerney, who will have Emily-Rose Finnigan as assistant coach, is bullish about the depth in the Saints' junior grades.

"This year I was the under 15 and under 17 coach and when I look at those two lists, there's seven players in there at least who I think will play open for Koroit," she said.

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"That is pretty unique. You might get two or three but this is pretty exciting. For me, it's about getting these girls ready and giving them an opportunity."

Koroit president Steve Hoy said the club was rapt to have McInerney sign on.

"It is really pleasing. She's been heavily involved in all levels of our junior program so it's a really nice fit," she said.

"A lot of the kids are breaking into that senior open grade who she would've coached and she knows them inside out.

"And like anyone who steps into that position, she's pretty passionate."

Teenager Zahli Adams has moved to Darwin and defender Kasey Owen is pregnant and could miss some of the season.

Rachel Dobson (achilles) will return to the open side.

Koroit has appointed former Warrnambool open-grade coach Kate Lindsey as its 17 and under coach and Jenna Osborne as 15 and under coach.

340-gamer Andrew Foster has committed as under 18.5 football mentor and Nick Whiting will lead the reserves.

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