School Student Steps Up to CoachMonday, August 17, 2020 - 8:31 AM

If the start of the 2020 footy season wasn't already challenging enough, Manning Rippers year 5/6 girls team started season without a coach. They had completed their second session coachless, when Paul Masiello approached an older looking girl who had been kicking the footy with her dad during the training. 

It turned out he has asked the right person. Year 11 Kennedy Senior High student, Tyler Jones, was the older sister of a player in the Manning Rippers year 7 team and had previously played for the club before moving across to Booragoon to continue playing in the youth competition. She immediately agreed to coach the 5/6 girls. 

With Manning Rippers close to her heart, she went to Booragoon because Manning Rippers were unable to field a team in her year 7 competition. She later made the choice to stop playing footy to continue her career in cricket. She is currently playing for the WA state cricket team. Tyler commented, "I'm really excited to be a part of the community who can give back to the system that helped me get to where I am today. I stopped playing in year 9 to continue playing cricket, where I've represented the state of WA in both indoor and outdoor teams and I am continuing that in the coming weeks".

"For me, it's been amazing to witness firsthand the growth and development of girls sport and girls footy throughout the past few years. As a junior, female sport sits very close to my heart", Tyler said. 

Manning Rippers JFC President, Paul Masiello, said "Having Tyler step up to the responsibility and return to Manning Rippers to coach is pretty magical".