Sport
6 January, 2025
'A good fit': Taylor excited to work with talented group as Saints coach
Vernetta Taylor will lead the Horsham Saints A Grade in 2025.
WFNL
Netball
After coaching the club's junior netballers for several seasons, a Horsham Saints' life member will get the chance to lead the A Grade squad in 2025.
Vernetta Taylor will take the reigns of a Saints side that has won two of the past three WFNL premierships, a step that she is excited to take.
"I have been focused on junior coaching for the last few years. However, the opportunity to coach the A Grade being such a talented group of players, and including some really talented young athletes in that group," she said.
"I think it was a good fit, because I've worked with a lot of the players, because they've come through the junior ranks, and now they are playing in that A Grade side."
And, it is the teaching side of the role that excites Taylor the most, she has also coached the league's 15 and 17-and-under representative teams.
"It's the whole reason why I dedicate so much of my time to netball coaching,is to actually see these girls progress through from their development," she said.
"Right back from under-13s playing for Horsham Saints, and now securing sports in our senior teams, it's really satisfying.
"That's my driving motivation, I'm just absolutely thrilled now that I can be a part of their ongoing development as a senior coach."
The Saints have retained much of its core group from the past season.
Defender Erin Martin returns after missing 2024 after having a baby; fellow defender Elly Knott will miss 2025 for the same reason.
While after she joined the squad half way through the season, versatile defender Holly Phillips has re-committed.
"She [Phillips] was a wonderful pickup for the club. She's amazing [with her elevation] and is a very dynamic player," Taylor said.
Taylor also complemented the combination of Phillips and Maddison Bethune.
"Watching those two together is amazing, and I'm excited to see given that they've had more time with each other, what they'll be able to do next season," she said.
The offer season period was busy for Taylor as she was announced coach and received life-membership of the club in a short period of time.
"I'm really grateful to the club for the opportunity to coach at the a grade I'm also grateful for the opportunity to coach the juniors, because to me it is critical that we provide that really strong coaching for our kids," she said.
"It was really amazing time to receive life membership and then be appointed A Grade coach, it was a dream come true."