Hobsons Bay Netball Club is hoping to have put a pathway in place with the move to have senior teams for the time.
The club has had junior sides in the Altona Netball Association the past five years and has now entered senior sides in the Western Netball League competition.
Hobsons Bay is the first non-aligned club to join the WNL competition.
Co-president Helen Mullins said it was a really exciting time for the club.
“Our journey into the WFNL competition actually commenced last season,” she said. “Some of our club players, including myself, were competing in the competition for another club and loved the nature of the competition,” she said.
“At the end of the season we submitted a proposal to enter HBNC into the competition as a non-affiliated club.
“Soon after we received the phone call that we had been accepted as the first non-affiliated club. When we got that phone call, we were absolutely ecstatic and so proud as a club.”
Coming into the process late, the club was hoping to enter two teams, maybe three into the WNL competition.
An influx of members meant that they have been able to field four teams.
“We have players who have participated in highly competitive netball to those that have only played junior or social netball, but they have taken to the WFNL with gusto,” Mullins said.
“As a club we want to see all our players develop to their full capability and maintain a great relationship with their team-mates, coaches and the club as a whole.
“We believe it is extremely important to establish connections with all players of each team and see them as mentors regardless of differing skill sets. Our players garner support from each other both on and off the court and this reflects in the game.
Mullins set up the club with her husband and co-president Nathan Mullins and now vice-president Felicia-Anne [Ferguson], when they couldn’t find the right club for their kids.
She said they wanted somewhere that those junior players could progress into the senior ranks at a competitive level.
“We see the WNL as a pathway for our junior players who may be aging out of the junior competition but are seeking a highly competitive playing environment,” Mullins said. “The calibre of the WNL competition allows our players to push themselves to their limits and learn a different style of playing.
“As all clubs hope, we want our players to achieve success on the court, but we also want to carry this off court and into life – it’s not just about winning a trophy, but it is also about winning in a mental capacity, physical capacity, winning great friendships and building resilience to have success in life.”
Tara Murray
