Port Fairy netball coach Renae Taylor says she's raring to go

Born: Hamilton, March 17, 1987.

Husband: Tom. Children: Hazel and Eloise.

Parents: Darren and Jacinta Beks.

Siblings: Emma and Sophie.

Education: St Mary's Primary School Hamilton before going to Monivae College Hamilton.

Sporting Highlight: Representing Victoria in netball in the 2001 Victoria Catholic Netball and Private Schools titles against New Zealand when I was 16 years old.

Renae, you were appointed as the senior coach of the Port Fairy Football Netball Club for the 2021 season in November last year. How has the lead up been for this season, given there was no play in the competition in 2020?

I think that we're going along pretty well, with only a few weeks before the season begins.

Personally, I had a bit of a set back two weeks ago when I fractured two bones and fractured ligaments in the lower part of my right leg.

My leg is in plaster.

The incident occurred at netball training.

I knew straight away I had problems.

I was lucky that Marg Hulin, who is a physiotherapist, was at training.

I ended up at the Warrnambool Base Hospital the next day for X-rays and they gave me the bad news.

My leg will be in plaster for the next few weeks.

I suppose the only good thing about it is I'm the non-playing coach at Port Fairy.

Have you suffered many injuries during your netball career?

I found in my late 20s that I was getting soft tissue injuries and hamstring issues, and I think that may be because you're getting a bit older.

I fractured both my elbows earlier in my career due to falls on the netball courts.

I've played a lot of netball during my life starting at a young age in Hamilton and realised my career as a player is now over.

Tom and I have a young family.

We lead a pretty hectic lifestyle with two young children - Hazel is three and Eloise is one - and business interests, so with everything in the mix it was time I just focused on coaching.

I had a few long discussions with Ally Feely before I took on the coaching role at Port Fairy.

I wanted Ally as my assistant.

Ally and I are great friends. We played together at Hamilton.

We missed out on a premiership with Hamilton when they were defeated by Koroit before playing in a premiership with Port Fairy in 2016.

I think in her own right Ally will turn out to be a very good coach.

Filling the role as the assistant coach will give Ally a great cornerstone for her coaching career going forward.

When did Port Fairy start its pre-season training for 2021?

We started in mid-November.

We never pushed anyone into coming back to training after missing last year because of COVID.

For a month, we just took things easy. We just wanted everyone to find their own feet at their own pace before the Christmas break.

I haven't forgotten that netball is a hobby and you want all the players to enjoy it.

I don't want training to be a drag.

We want everyone to enjoy it and not begrudge training.

We hit the courts again in January when we cranked up our training.

Listen to the latest episode of our weekly episode The Booletin and Beyond:

READ MORE:

There are two squads in place now.

The first one is for the open and division one sides while the other squad relates to divisions two and three.

This Saturday we play practice games against Ararat at home.

The practice games will give us a chance to have a look at various combinations we may take into the 2021 season.

How are the numbers of players looking for Port Fairy for the 2021 season?

We're pretty pleased with our numbers.

We have four senior sides, two under 17 sides, two under 15 teams, two under 13s, an under 11 side and a development squad.

Netball plays a big part in Port Fairy's community - just like so many other country towns.

We have a great group of volunteers who put in countless hours for netball and footy in Port Fairy.

It's a big commitment by the volunteers.

The club is lucky to have some very talented young netballers and footballers coming through its ranks.

They all have to be encouraged to firstly enjoy the sport and if we have success on the way through its an added bonus - not only for the individual but for the club and the local community.

The club is very lucky to have a person like Winnis Imbi coaching the seniors footy side.

He's a very approachable person and is a great communicator.

I'm sure the club is heading in the right direction with a person like Winnis leading the footy club.

Renae, what's your opinion on the standard of netball in the Hampden Football Netball League?

It's a very good standard of netball.

I would say each side has some very good players, but I would have to say the era from say 2005-10 was the strongest in my opinion.

For example, Koroit and Warrnambool back in that era had some really top players and the other sides in the competition all had very good players.

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can access our trusted content:

I look at a place like Koroit and I just admire what they have been able to do on the netball courts and the football ground over such a long period.

For a small country town to win so many premierships in both sports is a testament for all the hard work that goes in, on and off the courts and grounds.

I would say it's true when people say success breeds success.

Did you play many other sports apart from netball?

I played a lot of basketball. From under 10s to about when I was 30.

I really enjoyed it, but after you have children your focus tends to change.

I also did a lot of swimming when I was growing up in Hamilton.

What's a pass mark for Port Fairy's netball this year?

We've got a very young squad. I think our average age is just under 23.

Our eldest player is 30 and our youngest is 16.

Firstly, I want all the players to enjoy the game and the environment.

With that, I think the success will follow as they develop their skills.

MORE READS:

Have you signed up to The Standard's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in the south-west.