News

Camberwell Dragons are proud to announce an impressive line-up of age group head coaches for the 2026-27 Victorian Junior Basketball League (VJBL) season. They are:

Under 12 Girls – Prue Ainsworth
Under 14 Girls – Cara Jeffers
Under 16 Girls – Amy Dingle
Under 18 Girls – Jack Thornton

Under 12 Boys – Liam O'Hoy
Under 14 Boys – Tom Denovan
Under 16 Boys – Ben Crowe
Under 18 Boys – Christian Peachman

See profiles for all eight coaches below:

Under 12 Girls – Prue Ainsworth

Prue is a true Dragons success story. A Life Member of the club, she proudly played her entire junior career with the Dragons and has become a cornerstone of our coaching team.

Known for inspiring young athletes to achieve their best, Prue has guided her teams to multiple Victorian Championship (VC) and National Junior Classic appearances, including an impressive bronze medal finish at the 2024 NJC.

With her experience, passion, and proven track record, we know our Under 12 Girls are in fantastic hands.

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Under 14 Girls – Cara Jeffers

A valued member of the Dragons coaching family since 2013, Cara has built an outstanding reputation for developing players and leading teams to success across multiple age groups.

This season, Cara guided our 14.1 Girls to Victorian Championship (VC) qualification and an impressive fourth-place finish at the National Junior Classic. She will also lead her team at next month's Foot Locker Under 14 National Club Championships in Perth.

With her wealth of experience, passion for player development, and proven leadership, we're excited to see Cara continue inspiring and developing the next generation of Dragons.

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Under 16 Girls – Amy Dingle

Amy has come right through the Camberwell Dragons pathway as a player, and we are incredibly excited to see her take on this important leadership role within our program.

Amy has enjoyed a fantastic season as coach of our 16.2 Girls, guiding them to a top-of-the-table finish. She has also made a significant impact as our Big V Youth League Women's team assistant coach, continuing to develop her coaching expertise while supporting athletes at the next level.

One of Amy’s greatest strengths is her ability to build genuine relationships with her players. She creates a positive and supportive environment while also having an outstanding ability to simplify her messages, ensuring effective communication and athlete development.

Amy is a fantastic role model who is constantly striving to improve, with a real thirst for knowledge and a commitment to continuous learning and growth.

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Under 18 Girls – Jack Thornton

Jack returns to the Under 18 Girls Program after leading our 18.1 girls this season, a team that has continued to develop strongly and is shaping up to be a serious contender heading into the upcoming finals campaign.

A familiar face around the Dragons, Jack previously spent three years as a player in our Big V Championship Men's team while also contributing across our development programs as a coach. His passion for player development and connection to the club make him a fantastic fit for this role.

Jack brings extensive coaching experience from his time at Bulleen, where he worked with junior athletes and spent two years as assistant coach of the Championship Women's team. His coaching credentials also extend to the representative pathway, having coached within Basketball Victoria's State Development Program, Southern Cross Challenge and East Coast Challenge.

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Under 12 Boys – Liam O'Hoy

Liam has a long history with the Camberwell Dragons, as a player in our junior and senior programs and as a Programs and junior representative coach.

In addition to his work with the Dragons, Liam currently holds a coaching role with Basketball Victoria, where he helps develop and inspire Victoria's emerging FDP and SDP athletes.

With his wealth of knowledge, experience, and passion for player development, we're confident our Under 12 Boys program will thrive under Liam's leadership.

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Under 14 Boys – Tom Denovan

Tom's journey with the Dragons began as a player in our Under 16 program before progressing through to Under 21s. Over the past seven seasons, he has developed into a highly respected coach within our Under 14 program and this season was appointed as an assistant coach for our senior women's Big V team.

In his first season as our 14.1 Boys Head Coach, Tom led the team to Victorian Championship (VC) qualification and earned selection to compete at this year's National Junior Classic. With his experience, passion and strong connection to the Dragons community, we're excited to see Tom continue leading and developing our Under 14 Boys program.

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Under 16 Boys – Ben Crowe

Ben has been a valued member of the Camberwell Dragons family since joining our Big V Youth League program in 2021 and continues to make a strong impact on and off the court. Currently competing with our Championship Men's team, Ben brings a wealth of playing experience and a deep understanding of the game to his coaching.

Away from the Dragons, Ben is Director of Coaching at Community Basketball League (CBL) club Canterbury Cougars, where he plays a key role in developing players and coaches across the program. His passion for player development and commitment to excellence make him an outstanding leader for our Under 16 Boys group.

Ben is a coach who drives high standards, has exceptional attention to detail and is dedicated to helping athletes reach their full potential. He is passionate about creating a positive, disciplined, and competitive environment where players can grow on and off the court.

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Under 18 Boys – Christian Peachman

Christian currently serves as the Head Coach of our 16.1 Boys team and is an assistant coach with our Championship Men's Big V team.

A dedicated and experienced coach, he previously spent seven years at Coburg coaching at the Big V Youth League level, developing athletes and building strong programs. Christian continues to expand his coaching expertise through his involvement with Basketball Victoria's State Development Program, where he has coached as part of the State Development pathway, including roles as a Country Metro Challenge (CMC) and Giddey-Daniels Cup Coach.

His passion for player development, commitment to continuous learning, and extensive coaching experience make him an outstanding leader for the Under 18 Boys age group.