SHE has been a star during St Pat's incredible run of success in Group 10s league tag competition, but in season 2020 Meredith Jones has a new mission.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
It is to foster a new generation of Saints.
While the coronavirus pandemic led to the cancellation of this season's open women's league tag competition, premierships for the younger grades will still go ahead. The under 18 Saints will be coached by Jones.
"It was sprung on me one night at a function and I said I'd do it and before you know it, someone was following up on that comment," she said.
"Pat's is kind of where the ole heart is, so I'm putting everything into that for now, coaching the under 18s girls is my priority.
"It's certainly a different kind of feel coaching compared to playing, but they're a good group of girls. They are kinda of the same group of 18s we had last year and I just couldn't say no, they are a really good bunch of girls and really want to learn."
Jones was understandably disappointed she will not be able to push for a fourth consecutive league tag premiership with her team-mates, but she was delighted that the 18s will still compete in 2020.
She knows how crucial it is for this age group to stay involved and get the chance to develop before progressing to the senior ranks.
"It's crucial, if you look at the amount of females that stop playing sport between that age of 16 and 19, or 16 and 20, you really need that age group. It's such a big jump from 16s to opens, so 18s are so important to keep them in the sport and keep them coming back," she said.
"You've got a lot of competition with rugby sevens taking off and girls are really enjoying the tackle, so you want to have that there to keep them going.
"You don't want to lose those numbers and I know they've worked really hard to get those numbers to where they are today to be able to run an 18s comp, we certainly don't want to see them disappear at all."
Having learned from quality coaches so far during her own playing career, Jones is now keen to pass on some of her knowledge. In doing so it will not only help the under 18 Saints this season, but in the future as well.
"I've been lucky enough to have some really good coaches over the years between Mick [Armstrong] and Jess Skinner for the Western Rams. So having had good coaches, you kind of want to put your hand up as well because you understand that opportunity that's there," she said.
"That was the other thing, you want your younger players to be playing in the same style that you are, so when they come up they can just slot in. So that was another incentive to coach the 18s, it's a really good way to get them involved with the club having one of the open girls doing it.
"We did have three of them step up into opens for the Canowindra carnival at the start of this year and they slotted in really beautifully. That's the beauty of having 18s too, they can filter up."
The under 18s will begin their season on July 19.
