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Sport

2 November, 2023

Maggie Tranter is 2024 Maryborough A grade coach

Maryborough have appointed Maggie Tranter as their A grade coach for 2024 in a bid to continue their rebuild into a genuine finals contender. Tranter, a previous recipient of the 17 and under Sing Medal in the Bendigo Football Netball League in 2017...

By Michael Thompson

Maggie Tranter is 2024 Maryborough A grade coach - feature photo

Maryborough have appointed Maggie Tranter as their A grade coach for 2024 in a bid to continue their rebuild into a genuine finals contender.

Tranter, a previous recipient of the 17 and under Sing Medal in the Bendigo Football Netball League in 2017 and co-coach of the B grade team alongside Keely Hare in 2023, takes over the role from Jordan MacIlwain for 2024, and is excited about the challenge after she was approached by both MacIlwain and Alicia Cassidy for the role.

“The role came about when Jordan MacIlwain and Alicia Cassidy approached me to coach the A graders. It took me a couple of weeks to work out how much work would go into it, then putting together my puzzle pieces to work out the support system that I had in place before I committed to do it,” she said.

“I never really thought I would become an A grade coach as such, since I’m still young, but I always strive to be better and I enjoyed coaching, and enjoy it when I’m on the court, trying to direct players and getting better through that.

“It popped up at the right time, and I felt if I didn’t take the leap, I never would.

“(Fiancé) Brady Neill has been a huge supporter of it too — he has pushed me to do this a little bit as well, and it’s very exciting.”

Tranter takes over the role in the midst of a transitional season for Maryborough’s A graders, having fallen from seventh to ninth in 2023 with just three wins.

The club are continuing to nurture a number of talented young players through the under 17 system, with the club participating in finals in that competition over the last two seasons.

Tranter is looking to continue on MacIlwain’s work.

“I’m looking to implement more development, we have a few juniors coming up, as well as the girls we already have, and getting more skill work to get through all four quarters,” she said.

“I’d like to take on what Jordan did last season, she did a fantastic job with everything she implemented, and I want to keep it going from there.

“I’ve had a lot of mentors within the club, such as Cass and Alicia Chadwick, Jordan — they’re great mentors, and having the experience in the Bendigo league as well, having played since I was under 17s and playing the last six or seven years. My experience as a player might help our teams out as well.”

Tranter made her return to the A grade setup as a player late in 2023 after becoming a mother for the first time, and with a support setup in place to allow her to take on the role with her full commitment, she isn’t prepared to hold anything back to help shape the Magpies’ potential future success.

“Having that player/coach role is going to be difficult, but also really exciting, and I’m hoping to rely on help from my assistant coach a little more, with someone who’ll be a bench coach and wants the same outlook as me,” she said.

“Every season always comes with challenges, and you want to go and meet those challenges early.

“This season, for instance, we had five of our B grade girls out with injuries, so if you haven’t got one challenge, another pops up.

“You can only real deal with them as they happen — you can’t predict what you can and can’t do.

“The support system we have at Maryborough is huge, and I won’t be alone when dealing with those challenges. So, with other people’s experiences, and mine as well, we’ll have a plan to overcome anything that comes our way.”

It’s a support system which has seen messages of support flood in since she was appointed during the week.

“Since I’ve taken on the coaching role, my phone hasn’t stopped,” Tranter said.

“I know that I have a lot of support systems I can lean on — and it’s not just from the girls who have been around for a long time, there’s also been great support from girls who have just arrived at the club, and they’re willing to step up and help too.”

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