Tara Murray
Australian netball star Brodie Roberts dreamed of the opportunities that he has got the last month on the netball court.
After international men’s netball sidelined since the COVID-19 pandemic, Roberts and Australian men’s team were back on court and in a big way.
Televised matches, autograph sessions, camps with the Australian Diamonds and an invitation to an international event, just some of the new elements for the men’s team in the last couple of months.
Roberts said it’s been a crazy few weeks both here in Australia and in New Zealand.
“It has been amazing,” he said.
“The first tour against New Zealand and having televised matches is insane. Then a home match in Melbourne at John Cain Arena.
“I’ve watched Australia, the Melbourne Vixens and Collingwood so often. It had always been a dream.
“Men’s netball are the sport’s biggest supporters but we never thought these opportunities would come.”
This year was the fifth straight year that Roberts had been picked in the Australian squad. He had some nervous moments earlier in the year, when he hurt his calf at the national championships, which were used to select the team.
He did enough and was among those picked to play against New Zealand, England and in the Fast Five championships.
The matches were to coincide with the Australian Diamonds matches.
“One of the amazing parts was the training camp at the AIS with the Diamonds,” Roberts said.
“It felt like the pinnacle at the start of the month. Being in that high performance environment, we were viewed in that same lane.”
Once on court, the Aussies split the opening two matches against New Zealand meaning the decider would be held in Melbourne.
Roberts said while they would have loved to have won all three matches, the chance to win the series at home was pretty special.
They would also meet some of their fans, wanting autographs from their newest heroes.
“It was amazing,” Roberts said. “I’ve been a netball fan my whole life and I had people coming up saying they like how I play goal attack.”
Roberts said the Fast Five competition was a different experience, as the men played official games for the first time.
“We had played a few practice matches,” he said. “It wasn’t the result we were after but the first ever international even the men’s team has been invited too. It was ground broken for us.”
The courts on the world stage are a long way from the Altona Netball Association where he started playing.
His mum was coach of the Williamstown Tigers and if they were short of players, she would get him to play.
The next season he signed up for Netta and was hooked on the sport.
A number of people have stepped up to help Roberts get to the highest level, one being his secondary college coach at Williamstown High, Marg Lind.
“I acknowledge her as being the biggest coach in my netball career,” he said. “She coached me from year seven to year nine and invited me down to City West Falcons trainings when Kate Moloney and Liz Watson were playing there.
“My game has stepped up now since I’ve moved into my senior career.”
The now Geelong resident is back in the Falcons fold this year as part of the Altona Falcons men’s team program in the M-League.
Roberts attention will turn to the M-League season, but not before a well earned break.
