Netball
2 April, 2026
WFNL 2026 preview: Coaching a double act at Stawell
Both A grade netball coaches this season for Stawell have been a part of the club for a long time.
Courtney McIIvride and Jemma Clarkson will lead the way for the club in 2026, with Clarkson continuing to take the court for the side while McIIvride dedicates herself to coaching from the side this season.
Clarkson said growing up in a country town, the best way to be involved with and a part of the community was playing sport.
"My mum and older sister played (netball) and it has always been a big part of my life," Clarkson said.
"I’ve been playing about 30 years now, a chunk of that with the Stawell Warriors, and prior to moving to Stawell, I played for Maryborough."
Likewise, her co-coach McIIvride has been playing netball since she was 12 – and would travel home to play netball even when she was at university.
"I've always been a sporty kid," McIIvride said.
"I did all sports, from athletics and calisthenics all the way through to pony club.
"I started interchurch netball in Stawell at 10, loved it, and have played every year since."
McIIvride said she was not playing this season to focus on coaching the side.
This will also allow her further rehabilitation on her knees and to juggle the demands of being a first-time mum, her baby having been born last year.
"I'm still training and working on being able to fill in or qualify for teams if need be but I do things 100 per cent, and this year that, for me, is coaching," she said.
Both coaches have previously held the role, Clarkson having first coached the A grade side from 2010 to 2012 before taking up the position again from 2024 onwards.
McIIvride coached A grade for a couple of seasons during Covid; season 2026 is her first back at the helm.
Clarkson said she was drawn to the position, wanting to create an inclusive, positive and strong culture within the side, and she looked forward to assisting the girls in developing further and learning more this year.
"Last season we finished out of finals but we are looking to change that this year," she said.
"Our club culture and morale within the team is extremely strong and we will continue that into this season.
"Our aim this season is to improve our systems on court, creating more consistent performances."
The Warriors are welcoming a number of players back to the club from previous years, with Lisa Considine and Rachael Driscoll two of those returning after giving birth last year.
"Erin Freeland has come back to the club after a few years in the district league," Clarkson said.
"Molly Orr, Madi Taylor and Jessie Newton have also all returned to play this year."
McIIvride added that the co-coaches were excited by the side they had this year.
And as for the end goal, McIIvride said it was always making finals.
"But with having a very strong nine (players), we want to use all nine well, allowing for big impact on the court," she said.
