Yackandandah's Emma Maslen reflects on memories as she starts new chapter as coach

But the Roo soon found all eyes on her as she was thrust into the spotlight as the A-grade winner.

"I got the shock of my life when I had to walk up and speak in front of all of those people," Maslen said.

"I like to be prepared and I certainly wasn't prepared that night.

"I've always thought it was a good time and we usually put our hands up to go.

"I just thought that year would be the same, but it turned out that it was a bit more significant."

Accompanied by her mum Vicki, brother Brendan and her now husband Lachie, Maslen had another supporter who was just as surprised to hear the news.

"My mum had told my dad not to worry about bothering to come because I wasn't going to win anything anyway, so he stayed at home," Maslen said.

"I think he still holds a bit of a grudge about that."

Growing up on a property just outside Yackandandah, the Johnson family have always been big supporters of the club.

Her father Kevin is a life member, her brother Brendan a former president and her mum Vicki and sister Brodie have both played netball.

Maslen's late brother Adrian also played football for the Roos, with the club honoring his passing with the Johnson Family Perpetual Trophy.

"The club still recognises that every year which is really humbling," she said.

"It's changed over the years but it's an award received by the best and fairest winner of the twos in the football."

After starting to play at the club when she was 10, Maslen has only ever known life as a Roo.

While netball has always been her first choice, she's also had a passion for football.

"I really wish that I had had the same opportunities that girls have now in terms of being able to access football," she said.

"I would have definitely been doing that had the competitions been around when I was younger."

The 2013 netball season remains a highlight for Maslen, despite some heartbreak.

"Right from the start that year had something special about it," she said.

"Kylie Murphy was leading us and we made it to the grand final against Thurgoona.

"Unfortunately in the dying minutes of that game we lost.

"It was pretty heartbreaking, and we haven't had anything close to that since."

She also looks back fondly on her time playing with former coach and multiple league medallist Rebecca Stamp.

Not only has the club provided her with memories, but she also met her husband at Butson Park, with Lachie playing senior football.

The pair share a love of travel, taking off on a road trip adventure in 2019.

"We got married, sold our house and jumped in a camper," she said.

"We did three months travelling up central Australia to Darwin and then came down the West Coast.

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"It was a really big trip and we're so glad we did it when we did, because who knows when trips like that will be able to happen again."

The couple have since welcomed daughter Molly into the world, with Maslen forced to sit out the remainder of the 2019 competition.

"I did have plans to return and I was ready to put the dress back on for the last part of that season," she said.

"I said yes and then found out that week that I was pregnant and I was quite sick.

"I had to tell some fibs and say that I was enjoying not playing, which was certainly not the case, I wanted to play."

Now back on court, Maslen admitted it's been different returning after having a baby.

"It wasn't as smooth sailing as I thought it would be physically," she said.

"Your head thinks you can do one thing and your body shows you a different reality.

"I was bed ridden for a lot of my pregnancy, then to start exercising again, I missed it, but my body didn't really know what had hit it."

Maslen's childhood friend and former Ovens and Murray star Jess Garland has also returned to the Roos this season, with the pair uniting on court for the first time since juniors.

"We were neighbors, so we grew up together," she said.

"Her mum was my coach, and she's one of the best coaches I've ever had.

"It's really special being back playing with childhood friends."

Maslen has taken the next step in her netball career after it was announced she'd be taking the A-grade coaching reins midseason from Nicky Coleman.

"It's something that I've been building towards for a while now," she said.

"The club had approached me previously, but life had just got in the way.

"With the talent in the current playing group that we've got, and the opportunity to work alongside O and M royalty in Dids (Beck O'Connell) it's an opportunity too good to pass up.

"It's not just her talent on the court, but she has a real passion for strengthening country netball.

"I'm really proud of the maturity the group has shown taking on this change midseason."

Yackandandah has bolted out of the blocks strongly, but Maslen admitted they have a challenging few weeks ahead.

While Victoria's lockdown has put the season on pause, Maslen is also navigating the change to online learning as a primary school teacher at Baranduda's St Francis of Assisi.

Maslen admitted she's excited to see what lies ahead for the Roos.

"All of our girls are incredibly talented and we definitely have unsung heroes in our team," she said.

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