Netball
7 April, 2026
WFNL 2026 preview: Toet a pace-setter both off and on court
Dimboola's A grade netball coach, Antoinette Toet, has had her fair share of success on court.
With four A grade premierships and a few runners-up to go with that, the experienced netball head not only coaches the side but still pulls on the Dimboola dress.
"Just...," Toet replied when asked if she was still playing.
"I hope to be able to play while I can still and while my body allows it."
Toet grew up in Melbourne in a family big on sports.
Her dad was into boxing, cricket and rugby while her mum did athletics and netball.
Toet's brothers also played cricket, football and hockey.
"I was brought up beside the netball court watching Mum play netball from a youngster and then became involved in playing (at 11), umpiring (at 13) and coaching (at 15) and am still involved," Toet said.
Although Toet played for St Mary's Netball Club in the Dandenong Netball Association at first, she played during her school years for Waverley.
In 1999 she moved to the Wimmera and began playing locally.
She's assisted a number of A grade sides to premiership success, including A grade Horsham Demons (1999 and 2000), Beulah in the Wimmera Netball Association (2001) and Noradjuha-Quantong in the Mallee Netball Association (2005).
Her first gig locally as coach was junior A and B grades for Beulah, while her first coaching role in seniors in the Wimmera was for Noradjuha-Quantong in A grade.
Since then she has coached many other sides, including being the 13 and under Wimmera league coach in both 2018 and 2021.
Toet first coached Dimboola A grade in 2015.
"We moved to Dimboola (from Horsham) in November 2009 for my husband Dean’s work, with our girls Jess and Maddy," Toet said.
"Dean was playing at Dimboola when I came over in 2011 while having a year off playing due to an ankle reco.
"I was persuaded to coach the 17 and under netball side that year and I have been involved in coaching at Dimboola since.
"After having our third child, Marnie, in 2013, I've been on the DFNC committee in some capacity, mostly as the director of netball.
"Dean and I have both coached for a number of years (reserves, seniors/A grade, B grade, 17s and 13s).
"Our girls are now playing, umpiring and also being involved in any way they can, which makes us immensely proud."
Last year Dimboola finished third, making it to the preliminary final.
Toet said, on reflection, the season was successful, with the side falling just short of their goal for the year.
"We were shattered when some season-ending injuries hit Indy Ward (round 10 – ACL) and Paige Glover (first final – ACL)," she said.
Further injuries to two replacement players (Eloise Wills and Emily Taylor) also occurred during the finals.
"Filling the holes left by these girls needs attention, as well as taking that 'next step' this season and further improving on the last."
With preseason not long under way when Toet chatted with Wimmera Mallee News, the coach said it was still early days.
"However, our A girls have returned and are keen to tackle unfinished business," she said.