Pay parity for Bulldogs netballers

A GRADE Golden Square netballers will be paid the same base rate as their peers on the footy field to play from this season onwards, in a move labelled proactive by club members.

Elite level Golden Square FNC netballers previously weren’t paid for their time on the court but will now receive a minimum of $100 per game, in line with the club’s senior footballers.

Vice-president Chris Richards said in making the announcement, the club wanted to make sure they were aligned with community expectations.

“This is a real sign to show that we value our netballers in the club and we see them at exactly the same level in the effort they put in to play the game and represent our club, as well as the contribution that they make off the field when it comes to social activities, fundraising and involvement in our junior development programs,” he said.

“Netballers who have had at least two years at the club and have come through our junior program will also be receiving an additional incentive.

“We want our junior netballers, the girls who are playing under 17s, to know right from the start that if they get through to that elite level they’re going to be valued as netballers at the same level as what our footballers are.”

A Grade netballer with the club Maddy Keighran said the parity match payments put her teammates on a level playing field with footballers.

“As netballers, we’ve always just played for the love of the game,” she said.

“We’re always putting in the same amount of effort as the footballers, we’re coming to training, volunteering, doing all of that so to finally be recognised as just as valuable as the footballers is really nice.

“It’s Golden Square Football Netball Club, it wouldn’t be that without the netballers. I’m really happy that the club is recognising how valuable we are.”