By Henry Milic
The Adelaide Thunderbirds have rounded out their High Performance team for 2024, with the return of premiership assistant coach Cathy Fellows and two new additions.
Experienced sports manager and former Melbourne Football Club player, Jace Bode, has been appointed General Manager of High Performance while registered psychologist William Tierney is the team’s new Athlete Wellbeing and Engagement Lead.
Bode has years of experience working with athletes during his time at the South Australian Cricket Association as Player and Leadership Development Manager as well as Development Coach at the Port Adelaide Football Club.
Now, Bode looks to make an impact in netball by helping young SA talent make it to the elite level.
“For me, when you think about netball you think about the Thunderbirds and their history, so for me the opportunity to assist Tania and the team moving forward and driving Netball SA forward, that was the motivating factor to join Netball,” Bode said.
“One of the things I’m passionate about is around player development, so I’m eager to understand and continue to build on our structures that are in place that give our young athletes who are coming through our elite pathways the best opportunity to transition really easily.
“We want to have as many South Australians representing the Adelaide Thunderbirds as possible and more broadly across the SSN.”
Having worked closely with athletes in the past, Bode recognises the importance of creating a positive environment both on and off the court.
“I will be focusing on the well-being of players, how we are managing mental health, the stresses of the broader environment and the eco-system that impact players on court,” Bode said.
“I want us to be a club who lives up to its values of ‘family, feared and respected’, so whatever I can do to assist us in making sure we fulfill those, I will.”
Cathy Fellows reprises her role as premiership Assistant Coach for the 2024 season.Bode has strong ties to the game through his wife: SA netball icon Natalie von Bertouch, who captained the Thunderbirds to two premierships in 2010 and 2013 and represented her country for the Australian Diamonds.
However, Bode said he hopes to leave his own mark on the sport.
“It’s been a sport that through Nat I have been connected to for a long period of time but from a far, so I’m looking forward to being fully immersed moving into the next few years,” Bode said.
The Thunderbirds got their first win on Saturday against the Queensland Firebirds in Round One at their new home court of the Adelaide Entertainment Centre.
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