Southby, who was in Ballarat on Sunday along with head coach Natasha Chokljat as part of the Sovereigns’ selection trials, said the championship team had to aim high.

“That’s ultimately what you take (the role) on for,” Southby said.

“You don’t take it on not to be successful.

“Natasha and I are really going to work hard on building those foundations.

“It’s not going to happen tomorrow or next week. It’s something that you start this year and you’ve got to then build it up and get more and more people wanting to come to the club.”

Southby said it was a realistic goal to aim for the flag inside the next five seasons.

“You have got really good juniors here and the thing is now about securing them,

developing them,” Southby said.

“You have got people here with great coaching qualifications and links to the Australian Diamonds now, so I think that is a bright future.”

Southby will oversee the Sovereigns coaches, including a role on game nights, and will work on setting the club’s culture.

Chokljat said the club would have a fresh start and look to involve players from around the region, including those who play in country netball leagues.

“It’s a new club, it’s going to be a new culture and something we want Ballarat to embrace as a community.  We want all the young and talented players within Ballarat and surrounding areas to be striving to play with Sovereigns,” she said.

“With this selection process we are going through at the moment, of course we are going to try and get a few key experienced players,

but we want to have some home-grown young talent in amongst that.”

Southby and Chokljat are both former Australian netballers, who officially joined the Sovereigns after being announced as the new VNL licensee in July.

This followed the league failing to renew Ballarat Pride’s licence in the 10-club state competition.

tim.oconnor@fairfaxmedia.com.au