The long road travelled to the ideal destination may appear easy for some but more challenging for others. To all Victorian superstars in the making, I want to let you in on some inspiring stories of true brilliance.
Twelve spots in the whole of Victoria to make the Vixens; some would say it’s like finding a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. But won’t it be fun trying?
The path to the top isn’t easy for anyone. To get to the highest level, you not only have to have the physical capability, netball creativity and mental resilience, but you also need 100% commitment to the game.
I have no problem saying that every day in an elite netballer’s calendar is filled with physical preparation, nutrition monitoring, programmed recovery, injury management, sponsorship commitments, game analysis… and did I forget to mention work and study?
Through training alongside the best in the country, the mentality that these individuals posses is that of hard work and ‘No Regrets’. During my time at Phoenix, I watched players like Sharelle McMahon, Natasha Chokljat, Bianca Chatfield, and Ingrid Dick and one thing always stood out: they thrive on pressure situations and believe they can take on anything and anyone.
Take the story of the Vixens’ impact player Joh Curran who was raised in Robinvale in the isolated Northern region of Victoria. She often jokes that only two television stations, numerous school books and a love for netball on muddy grass courts were the only things that occupied her day. This often leads me to ponder that if that’s what it takes to achieve a Year 12 ENTER score of 98.9 and a chemical engineering degree, plus the extra bonus of playing for the Vixens, I am moving to Robinvale tomorrow!
Although it all seems like a shiny path to success, little do most people know that the year before Joh was selected in the Melbourne Phoenix, she missed out on not only an underage state team but the entire squad of 50. Since then, she continues to train at the extreme in order to hold a spot in the Vixens’ defence.
I guess the message I take from that is that anything is possible and to believe in your own ability against all odds.
So the likes of Joey Curran don’t slip through the system, Netball Victoria implements a thorough and structured pathway that is setup to develop these young stars coming through. The Zone Academy Program aims to develop talented players, which have been selected by an in depth Talent Identification process. With the new Victorian Netball League erupting in 2009, the Zone Academy Program is a breeding ground to gain a position on a Victorian Netball League roster, possible state representation and an overall goal to make it to the shinning lights of the Vixens.
As this program is a similar example of the TAC Cup in AFL football, the Zone Academy also needs a major sponsor to offer elite juniors in the state the best opportunity. In fact, I can’t understand why sponsors are not on board.
As a country girl, I know first hand that making a representative team, regional or state, means a large amount of exposure and extensive support from the community, especially in local media. The girls representing our Zone Academy become role models in their schools, associations and local Football-Netball clubs. To see them wearing their ‘Rep T-shirt’ which every young girl wants to be training in, with a sponsor’s logo pasted largely across the back, what better exposure is there than that?
There is no doubt that Netball Victoria has the knowledge and vision to take the program to an innovative level, but without the support and backing of such a sponsor, this process cannot reach its full potential. For prospective sponsors, there is so much to gain by getting involved with the fast growing sport of netball.
Who wouldn’t want to get involved with the athleticism, professionalism and style of our country’s finest female athletes?
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