When Murray Netball League heads to the 2025 Association Championships in June, a Tongala representative will be at the helm of the Open side.

Tongala A-grade coach Grace Hammond has seized the opportunity to take charge of the side, which will compete in Melbourne at the 25th edition of the championships on June 29 at the State Netball Centre.

Hammond was keen to progress her coaching journey, originally approaching the league last year with interest in the position.

“I reached out last year and it was in conversation, but the Murray league never went to the association champs,” she said.

“I really enjoy coaching, I'm obviously in my third year at Tonny and I've coached a lot of juniors as well before that.

“I think the Murray league has grown so much in the last couple of years, especially since COVID.

“We were always known as one of those lower leagues, but the way that netball has come along and with the juniors coming through especially, I think we've got some really talented players and I wanted to challenge myself a little bit as a coach and take that next step and I thought it was a good opportunity for myself.”

Hammond led Tongala to the A-grade flag in her first year in charge at the Blues in 2023 and her side was well in the conversation again in 2024, narrowly eliminated in the preliminary final.

She was also the inaugural captain of the Bendigo Strikers’ under-23 side last year.

The Association Championships feature shortened matches in a carnival format, with games played in halves rather than quarters.

Along with the Open division, under-17, under-15 and under-13 will also compete on the day, but junior sides face the extra hurdle of regional qualifying to make it to the June 29 finals.

In announcing Hammond for the role, the league said its focus was on developing its 23-and-under players.

The squad is set to be announced in early June, giving the team a month of preparation.

“All the girls who are going to be in the side, they're all A-grade netballers, so I'll do my best to teach them new things, but I think it's going to be more gelling the group together,” Hammond said.

“We'll do a few trainings beforehand and then just work on the basic structures that everyone will know, but I think the biggest thing for my role will be gelling the group and building quick connections so that we can push it with some of the best down in Melbourne.”

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Friday, 10th October 2025

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