New league for region's junior netballers

COMMENCEMENT of a new netball competition in Ballarat has been advanced for junior players from the Woady Yaloak Football Netball Club.

Stakeholders in the competition got a feel for the courts at Selkirk Stadium on Friday 20 March.

Woady Yaloak will now be fielding teams in the Ballarat Sunday Junior Netball Competition.

At a meeting in February between Woady Yaloak, the Ballarat Football Netball League and AFL Goldfields, the club was told it did not meet the minimum team requirements necessary to ensure the stability, integrity and fairness of the junior competition across all grades.

The league missive came in response to declining footballer numbers, but despite a burgeoning netball program.

On Friday last week, Bobby Norris, Woady Yaloak’s netball coordinator, said he was excited about the new Sunday competition.

“I think the turnaround by Netball Victoria and Basketball Ballarat to get this competition up and running has been amazing,” he said.

Mr Norris said the Woady Warriors are growing. More than 100 junior netballers have registered interest playing for the club.

Lauren O’Grady from Netball Victoria tries out Selkirk Stadium with Member for Ripon Martha Haylett and Woady Yaloak netball coordinator Bobby Norris.

“For a small township in Smythesdale, but representing a large catchment area, we can see the huge potential growth,” he said. “But the importance of having a club for the community that has kids sport particularly, which is vital for all sorts of reasons, is terrific.”

Member for Ripon Martha Haylett said the timing of the competition was beneficial for Woady Yaloak.

“I know that Netball Victoria had plans for growth in Ballarat previously, and we’ve had those conversations,” she said.

“We know that netball is booming in our region, and we want to see even more of that.”

Travis Merlo, Basketball Ballarat’s chief executive officer, said his organisation was looking forward to hosting the tournament.

He said it was important the competition was established to cater for young netballers.

Member for Wendouree Juliana Addison commended Mr Norris, Ms Haylett, Netball Victoria and Basketball Ballarat for their involvement in the competition’s development.

She said sport had the potential to enhance the wellbeing of young people.

“Being able to have that connection on weekends, to be able to play sport, to be physically and mentally well is what we want for all our kids,” she said.

More information about the competition, which has been set to begin 26 April subject to entries, is available at vic.netball.com.au/ballarat-sunday-junior-netball-competition.