Dedicated coach Abbey McKenzie will take the reins as head coach of the Southern Blast team for the 2024 National Netball League.

The Southern Blast Netball Team is made up of Southland and Otago players, who compete in the national Netball League. The League is seen as a performance pathway for new netball talent.

It’s a deserved promotion for McKenzie, of Oamaru, who has spent four seasons as assistant coach to Jo Morrison after initially completing two campaigns as an apprentice to the legendary late Georgina Salter.

“I’m really excited and feel quite grateful. You don’t take any opportunity like this lightly. There’s been some sacrifices over the years to do it but to say I’ve achieved this from Oamaru is something I’m very proud of,” she said.

“I will be forever in debt to the likes of Georgie and Jo who have had such a positive impact on my coaching career. Reflecting on what Jo and I have put together over the past four years, I think Georgie would be incredibly proud of how she influenced both of us.”

Morrison will focus her coaching energies into her role as assistant coach of the Ascot Park Hotel Southern Steel in 2024.

“I’m really thrilled for Abbey. I have loved working with her over the years and I’m excited to see her step up as the head coach.” Morrison said.

“After five years in the NNL space, three of which have been dual roles with the Steel as assistant coach, I am keen to focus completely on the ANZ Premiership with the Steel and further develop my coaching.” 

McKenzie was now “ready to get stuck in” to prepare for the next quest for the NNL title.

“I’m really lucky to be effectively inheriting what Jo has done in this space and, while I will put my tweaks on it, it will be great to continue that performance environment for our players,” McKenzie said.

“Last season we were really, really competitive and I want to build on that.”

The Blast provided a vital link into the ranks of the Steel and the elite ANZ Premiership.

“It’s so important to have that kind of pathway. The NNL bridges the gap to the ANZ Premiership and provides a fantastic competition to develop our talent,” McKenzie said.

“As a region, the connection between the teams is something we do really well. Part of my role now is to continue to develop players who are ready to step up for the Steel when needed.”

“It’s an aspect of coaching I love – being around the players and seeing them develop and achieving their goals. It’s about not just good netballers, but good people. As a coach, it’s pretty cool to be able to nurture that.” 

As part of the recruitment process for the Blast team, Netball South will host its annual Pathways Camp in November.

Successful players will be supported with a training programme during the summer to prepare them for the final trials to confirm the Southern Blast team and both the Emerging Talent and Aspiring Talent squads.