WITH Collingwood and Rob Wright parting ways it begs the question who could replace the head coach?

A tactical mastermind, Wright spent three years at the club making the step up to head coach in 2019 but was faced with a number of off-season changes in 2020. Kim Ravaillion and April Brandley both announced their pregnancy at the end of last season, while Ash Brazill tore her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in an AFL game back in February ruling her out for the season.

The list changes did not stop there with Nat Medhurst announcing her pregnancy and then unable to make her way up to the Queensland hub due to the COVID-19 restrictions, prompting her into retirement. Speaking or retirement a recurring knee niggle got the best of co-captain Madi Browne forcing the midcourter into retirement another blow for the black and white, while sister Kelsey was also ruled out for the season.

The Magpies were a shell of a team that made finals in 2019 and failed to reach those highs this season only getting one win on the board. In what was a trying season for the Magpies a couple of key players have re-signed for the club in 2021 with co-captain Geva Mentor committing to an extra year, best and fairest runner-up Molly Jovic signing on along with Jodi-Ann Ward. Given the wealth of turnover on court, it is fair to ask the question will the Pies stay in house with their selection of head coach or look externally. We assess a couple of viable options. Remember these are all hypothetical options.

Kate Upton:

Current assistant coach at the Magpies, Kate Upton has a wealth of experience with the squad and possesses a wealth of knowledge relating to the inner sanctum of the club. She took the reins momentarily in 2019, when Wright was out of action and finished with an unblemished record, proving she is more than capable to step up to the plate if given the opportunity. She has gone through the Victorian pathways both as a player and head coach with the DC Force in the Victorian Netball League (VNL).

Her coaching pedigree does not stop there, guiding the Tasmanian Magpies to premiership glory in 2018 in the Australian Netball League (ANL), testament to her high netball IQ and ability to elicit the best out of her players. with this in mind, Upton could be exactly what the doctor ordered in terms of experience, knowledge of up and coming players as well as a familiar face to a consistently changing outfit.

Nicole Richardson:

Another assistant coach at the Pies, Nicole Richardson poses as a potential option for Collingwood in 2020 and boasts a wealth of experience. A defensive minded coach, it is fair to say her influence on Ward was displayed throughout the SSN season with the Jamaican really finding her feet and adapting to the fast paced SSN scene. Richardson has spent time as a defensive coach with the West Coast Fever prior to crossing to Collingwood in 2018 and was a part of the premiership winning VNL side City West Falcons in 2019 as the assistant coach.

Her knowledge of pathway players and impressive defensive mind could help guide the likes of the ever-developing Ward who has signed on for 2021 and potentially Matilda Garrett to take the next step forward. Richardson has an innate knowledge of the game having represented Australia and playing for the Melbourne Kestrels back in the Commonwealth Bank Trophy series. Her familiarity could play into the hands of the Magpies who could be looking for consistency after a difficult season.

Sharelle McMahon

While it may be a long shot, given her decorated career at the Melbourne Vixens, a move to the Magpies as head coach could give Sharelle McMahon that next step up in her coaching credentials. A relatively young and inexperienced shooting end in the likes of Shimona Nelson and potentially Gabby Sinclair could value the mastermind that is McMahon. The former Australian Diamond has a high netball IQ able to see the game with great ease and has been a huge asset for the Vixens moving her way up from a specialist coach in 2014 to current assistant coach.

Michelle Den Dekker

Staying along the path of defensive minded coaches, South Australian Michelle Den Dekker could be a possibility for Collingwood in 20201. Den Dekker was the defensive coach for the Australian A Development team in 2019 that travelled to New Zealand to take on their respective squad along with England’s meaning she has a wealth of knowledge when it comes to not only international players but the next generation of players such as Garrett who was named among the players in the team.

The coaching roles do not stop there with Den Dekker a former Australian Diamonds assistant coach highlighting her high working netball brain and experience she could bring to the Collingwood outfit if she was to throw her hat in the ring.