Jill’s a true Warrior

Jill Appleton, Brent Russell and Simo Pajdic will coach the Pakenham Warriors' Big V basketball teams next season. 174058 Picture: RUSSELL BENNETT

By Russell Bennett

Pakenham’s Big V basketball Youth League Women’s team announced its arrival in a big way last season, and in 2018 is set to cement its reputation as one of the most exciting teams to watch in its division.
Leading the charge will be new head coach Jill Appleton, who will step up to the plate after cutting her teeth as an assistant in the program under Darren Thomas.
She has previously coached for three years at Victorian Championship level (qualifying for the National Championships twice) and served as a D-League assistant coach in the SEABL’s youth competition.
She’s thrilled to be stepping up to the plate in this, her first head coaching role.
“I’m just really excited to continue to build the profile of the girls’ program, which I think is really undersold,” she said.
“Having been a part of it for a couple of seasons and seeing what’s coming through, we just need to make it known that we are a club that’s on its way up.
“There’s a lot coming through and it’s exciting to think this will hopefully start putting us on the map.”
The Warriors finished fifth on the ladder last season with 11 wins and nine losses from their 20 games and Appleton said there’s plenty to be excited about moving forward.
“That middle part and second half of the season showed more where we’re at, rather than the first half,” she explained.
“It’s really exciting to see where we could take that for this season.
“At different stages different players stepped up. It took them a while to realise what playing Youth League was about.
“We lost that last game (by a point) and it was really heartbreaking to lose it but in the change rooms after it the talk was about this season coming up – not worrying about missing out on finals.
“The biggest thing we need to improve from last season is our defensive ability.”
Youth League 2 Men’s coach Simo Pajdic will again return in his role after guiding last season’s side to top spot on the ladder with a 20-2 record before bowing out by just a point in the semi-finals.
“The motivation is still very much there,” he said.
“The season ended abruptly for us. To only lose two games for the year (in the regular season) and then get knocked out in the first game of the finals was a bit of a bitter pill to swallow, for sure, but with the majority of those guys returning the feeling is still there.
“After going 20-2 and then the season ending abruptly, you have to look at the coaching staff, the players, everything. It’s not just on the players.
“We’ve done that and the goal is definitely still the same. We might just have to change up a few things.
“We’re there abouts – we just have to figure out that one thing that could get us over the hump. What can we do that other teams aren’t doing that will help us in the long-run?”
Finally, Division 2 Men’s coach Brent Russell will also return to the helm of his side after guiding it into the grand final series against Collingwood.
“We’ve made a couple of changes – we’ve lost a couple of big name guys – but hopefully we’ve added some more big names, and a few familiar faces who’ve been around the club are returning,” he said.
“There’s definitely unfinished business after last year.
“We’re looking to build and hopefully get that championship next year.”
“The twin towers will return so we’re looking big.
“We’ve added some height and a lot of versatile guys and a few guys with experience.
“There are a few key signings that we’re finalising at the minute but it’s pretty positive for 2018.”
Russell’s side is still super hungry for success – the players said as much in their exit interviews immediately after last season. For their next campaign, they’re determined to hit the ground running.
“They’ve got unfinished business, and just to make it more painful we’ll make them watch Game 2 of the grand final series to get that fire in the belly even more,” Russell said.
“We’ll do that in the first session in!”