Class prevails as Barkmeyer snares best on court medal

STAR BFNL goal attack Ruby Barkmeyer has thrown her support behind a permanent return to standalone interleague action and hopes to be there when Bendigo and Ovens and Murray meet for their return clash on O&M soil next season.

The 25-year-old former SSN player was the standout player on court as Bendigo made a triumphant return to interleague action at the QEO with a 34-goal victory over the visiting O&M.

It was the BFNL’s first standalone netball interleague clash since a 2018 win over Outer East at the QEO.

Barkmeyer and her teammates hope there are plenty more in store.

“Going back to this style is great … when all these girls are available, it makes it easier to field a strong team. A lot of people can’t commit to a tournament style competition,” she said.

“The one day, with just a few training sessions, suits a lot of these girls who are committed to VNL and other things.

“It was great getting to play with these girls. A lot of the time we are enemies, but we don’t often get to play together and this team (of 10 players) might never be on the same team. So it was special.”

While the BFNL will not be fielding a senior team in this year’s Association Championships, at least five players from the weekend’s line-up – Barkmeyer, Kirby Elliott, Charlee Kemp, Tilly Shepherd and Meg Williams – would have been ineligible to play due to the restriction on VNL players.

Absent also from last year’s Association Championships, despite the league boasting a great track record of success at the level, the BFNL team was intent on reinforcing its reputation as a country Victorian powerhouse on Saturday.

“We definitely wanted to come out and show them how high the competition is here in Bendigo,” Barkmeyer said.

“The top three teams here – Kangaroo Flat, Sandhurst and Gisborne – were all well represented and it shows the quality of players we have in the Bendigo league.

“It’s only getting stronger.”

Wary of their quality opposition, Barkmeyer said Bendigo had come well prepared in Saturday’s contest

“We came into the game with a lot of unknowns; we didn’t know much about the (O&M) girls, so we practiced a lot of different scenarios and situations at training,” she said.

“We had a lot of different combinations ready for whatever they threw at us.

“We watched the juniors today and both of their games were extremely close and we expected another close one, but I’m glad we could set it up early.

“The second quarter (which the BFNL won 23-12) was a big one.”

A best on court medal was fully-deserving for Barkmeyer, the team’s vice-captain, and a player who seemingly always saves her best for the biggest occasions.

A dual A-grade premiership player in 2016 and 2025 with Kangaroo Flat, she was the best on court medallist in both games.

She said her medal win reflected the efforts of her teammates, signalling out her partner in the goal circle Gabe Richards for a special mention.

“I think Gabe makes my job a lot easier, as do all the midcourters around me,” Barkmeyer said.

“Gabe definitely made me look good; I could throw the ball in from anywhere and somehow she’d manage to catch it.

“I can back myself on my shot anywhere in the ring as I know she is going to get the rebound.”

The pair were teammates for the first time since 2017, when a BFNL team that also included Chelsea Sartori and Ash and Abbey Ryan from Saturday’s line-up, claimed an Association Championships crown.