By ROY WARD
DANDENONG Rangers like to develop from within – when a player moves up in the club or indeed moves on, someone is brought up from below, and in a coaching sense the principle remains the same.
So it was hardly a surprise when youth girls coach Paul Flynn was last week announced as the new head coach for the South East Australian Basketball League women’s team, taking over from three-time championship winning coach Larissa Anderson, who will step back to focus on her young family.
The Rangers have already re-signed championship players Amelia Todhunter, Clare Papavs, Faith Probst, Aimee Clydesdale and Rosie Fadljevic while hoping to re-sign several more players in the coming weeks. Forward Hope Terdich is the only confirmed departure, having joined Sandringham.
Flynn, who had a long playing career at Nunawading before moving into coaching, said he looked forward to the start of the new season.
“We always set reasonably high expectations for this group,” he said. “After another year of WNBL experience for Rosie and Aimee, we will expect more from them this year. We are aiming to make sure we keep the program heading in that upwards direction.”
Flynn led the Rangers girls youth team to two championships and he expects a few players from those teams to move into regular positions with the senior team this year.
Flynn said he expected a few challenges after moving into working with senior women. “It’s a different dynamic to work with but the good thing is we run a fairly solid senior program between Larissa and myself. I had a little input with the team, so it won’t be a new voice barking instructions, they will just hear me more consistently than other years.”
The Rangers’ extended senior squad has already started training, with other players to join as the WNBL season winds down.
■ Dandenong Rangers used a 26-9 final quarter to overpower Canberra Capitals 98-73 in the WNBL on Saturday night.
The Capitals were close to the Rangers for much of the match before the reigning champions powered home in the final quarter.
The Rangers host Adelaide Lightning at Dandenong Stadium on Friday night at 7pm.
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