I met Melissa O’Brien some 15 years ago at a Level 1 Coaching clinic at which she was the presenter.

I was instantly impressed by her enthusiasm and her ability to make the whole weekend lots of fun whilst at the same time to learn a great deal of coaching ideas to pass onto players.

I remained in contact with Melissa during my coaching career at Mayfield Club and during my 5 years as Coaching Convenor at Metropolitan Districts Netball Association. She always offered tremendous support and innovative ideas to the benefit of players.

It was by default that I became her Manager some 10 years ago helping with an Under 19’s State League Team at Metropolitan. I enjoyed that year so much and respected her coaching ability monumentally and so, we have remained a Coach/Manager Team ever since.

Melissa as a Coach has all that is required to make a championship team. She enjoys making players, skilling them up and giving them the confidence to achieve to the best of their ability. She is a great strategist passing on her court craft to players and she is never afraid to try something new.

Her greatest strength is team cohesion. She has the uncanny ability to detect any potential problems before they arise and handles them with team discussions that bring an openness which is refreshing and results in laughter and great friendships.

She is a tough Coach, but if the players put in the effort they will be rewarded with great success.

More than anything for me,  I regard Melissa as a very close friend whom I admire and respect.