Hectic time anticipated as Lady Gators head for city
By Ed Jackson
March 19 2004Shepparton News
French will certainly be busy this weekend with the state championships and senior action.Picture: Julie Mercer
After only a month and half in his new role as Lady Gators' coach, Tony Long is facing a busy weekend with the
senior team and the under-16 team playing in Melbourne.
Long coaches both teams and will also have four members of his under-16 state championships team joining him for
the seniors' season opener at Sunbury tomorrow night.
"It's going to be a tough weekend, that's for sure," Long said.
"Hopefully we can come away with a win in division three for the under-16 girls and then a nice away win to open
the season for the seniors."
Caitlin Shadbolt, Maddi Crow, Emma Woodcock and Leah French are the four members of the under-16 squad who
will be making the step to the seniors at the weekend.
Long said the fact both events were in Melbourne had proved to be a blessing for the club.
"Well, that's a clearly marked piece of good luck that the championships are in Melbourne and the game is in
Sunbury as well," he said.
"Country Victoria (Basketball) has been most obliging for our needs in that regard, and it will definitely be a hand."
And with so many of his young charges making the step up to senior level, Long said there were plenty of positives
to look forward to at the weekend.
"There's an awful lot of young talent coming through, particularly through the girls' program, and I think you will
see the younger girls doing very well statistically this season in the junior grades," he said.
"Having Rob Frame (exGators coach) around at training to provide a mentoring role has been excellent; I'd like to
say we're going to win against Sunbury, it's always a tough game, both teams match up well against each other."
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March 19 2004Shepparton News
Tony Long has certainly got a busy weekend ahead of him, not only will he coach his first match in charge of the
Lady Gators' senior team, but he is taking the helm of the under-16 state championship team as well.
Before he departed on his Melbourne odyssey though, Tony wanted me to thank the sponsors that have made the
under-16s' journey possible.
They are DFI Shepparton, Tatura Hire and Landscaping Supplies and Trevaskis Engineering in Tatura.
Here's hoping the girls can bring back another state title for the region.