East Gippsland Netball has finalised its coaching line up for the 2027 Netball Victoria State Titles campaign.
Kat Hutchinson will coach the open side, with Traci Grogan and Katelyn Van Doeselaar taking charge of the 17 and under team, while Samira Heffernan and Taryn Cunningham will co-coach the 15 and under squad.
It will be Hutchinson’s third year leading the open team, and after finishing runners-up this year, she and the squad will be looking to go one better in 2027.
All eligible open players interested in representing the East Gippsland Region at the 2027 Netball Victoria State Titles are encouraged to submit an expression of interest prior to Sunday, October 11.
To be eligible for any of the squads, players must have participated in a minimum of six games during the 2026 season with one of the following affiliated clubs, leagues, or associations: Bairnsdale Netball Association, Bairnsdale Football Netball Club, East Gippsland Football Netball League, Lakes Entrance Netball Association, Maffra Football Netball Club, Mid Gippsland Football Netball Club, Morwell Football Netball Club, Morwell Netball Association, North Gippsland Football Netball Association, Omeo and District Football League, Orbost Netball Association, Sale Football Netball Club, Sale Netball Association, Traralgon Football Netball Club, and Traralgon Netball Association.
The State Titles will be played at Red Energy Arena in Bendigo from March 6 to 8.
Both Grogan and Van Doeselaar are certainly no strangers to the region, having given many years of service to East Gippsland netball and bringing plenty of coaching experience with them.
This season, Van Doeselaar coached the Wy Yung Football Netball Club 15 and under team as well as the Bairnsdale Netball Association 15 and under representative team, while Grogan coached the Heyfield Football Netball Club 17 and under team. Both have also enjoyed personal success, along with a great deal of team success, throughout the year.
The 17 and under girls are lucky to once again have these two at the helm. Their experience, knowledge of players and commitment to developing netball across the region will be a great asset heading into 2027.
Players born in 2010 and 2011 are invited to register to trial for the 2027 17 and under State Titles team. Registrations close at 6pm on Friday, October 2.
Trials will be held at the Traralgon Netball Association on October 4, Sale Netball Association on October 9, and Bairnsdale Netball Association on October 12. Players must attend a minimum of two of the three trials to be considered for selection.
If a player is injured and would like to be considered for selection, they must provide a brief written outline of their previous playing experience to East Gippsland Netball.
Heffernan brings plenty of coaching and playing experience to the region program. She is currently part of the Gippsland Sports Academy coaching team and is player-coach of the A grade team at the Yallourn Yallourn North Football Netball Club. She is also a Community Coach with Netball Victoria, delivering coaching through Train Like a Vixen clinics and various school netball clinics.
Cunningham comes into the program fresh off a fantastic 2026 season, coaching Boisdale Briagolong Football Netball Club’s “A” grade team to a premiership. Her passion for developing players also extends beyond club netball, running her own coaching clinics through TC Coaching, giving young netballers further opportunities to develop their skills and confidence.
Players born in 2012 and 2013 are invited to register to trial for the 2027 15 and under State Titles team. Trials will be held on the same dates and venues as the 17 and under program, with registrations closing at 6pm on Friday, October 2.
Successful teams will be announced via the East Gippsland Region Facebook page on October 30.
