Worth the wait: McDonald’s long road to SSN contract pays off

THERE’S no sure route to a full Suncorp Super Netball (SSN) contract, but Sacha McDonald is content, even proud, of having taken the long route.

The 26-year-old will fulfill a long-time dream when she takes to the court for Melbourne Mavericks this Saturday night in Bendigo for their season opener against Giants.

Her Mavs debut and first game as a fully contracted SSN talent come seven years after the first of her three seasons as a Melbourne Vixens training partner from 2019-2021.

The years in between included a prosperous two-year stint with English Super League club London Pulse, a return to VNL duties for Casey Demons and even a pair of country league premierships with her home club Edenhope-Aspley.

Having all but given up on her Super Netball dream, McDonald was coerced into joining the Mavs Reserves team last year for the club’s inaugural season in the SSN feeder competition.

Leading the team to the grand final as captain, McDonald claimed the team’s MVP award, with her stellar season earning her a call-up to the Mavs’ squad of 10 contracted players last August.

Reflecting on her road less travelled path to an SSN contract, McDonald is adamant it has all been worth the wait.

“I didn’t take the short route, but I am really grateful for how things have panned out,” she said.

“I’ve been in the system for a long, long time and had my stint as a training partner at the Vixens and then got to travel overseas to play with London Pulse and then gave it all away seriously, but I found my way back.

“I think I have put myself in a position where I’m ready to go.

“I’ve got a bit of life experience under the belt too.

“I wouldn’t have it any other way, even though when I was 19, I would have liked to have been where I am now. It’s worked out for the best.”

 

 

McDonald, who has made the transition into more of a wing attack, away from goal attack, since entering the Mavs system, credits her Reserves experience under coach Tracey Brereton – also head coach of Bendigo Strikers – for helping rekindle her Super Netball desire.

“I really had given away the thought of playing ANC, or at that level, and didn’t necessarily jump to put my hand up, but fortunately a few coaches pushed me to play at a level I could be comfortable at and with no pressure,” she said.

“Tracey took a risk to take me under her belt, but she was amazing. She let me play with freedom.

“I learned a heap of stuff under her. She’s just such a great leader and brought a really random group of girls together to succeed throughout the season.

“I was really grateful to be able to dip my toes into the Mavs main team throughout the season through training and I sat on the bench for one game.

“It was environment that really suited me.”

McDonald is one cog in a fresh-look Mavericks lineup, which went down by six goals in their final warm-up match against the reigning champion Vixens at Red Energy Arena last week.

The Mavs have lured Australian Diamonds midcourter Jamie Lee-Price from their opening round opponent Giants, and pried Reilley Batcheldor and Tara Hinchcliffe away from Sunshine Coast Lightning.

Jessie Grenvold has been elevated from training partner status last season, while Uneeq Palavi has also won full-time status after being a replacement player last season.

Palavi’s exquisite two-point shooting was a key to the Mavs keeping pace with the Vixens throughout last week’s game in Bendigo.

 

 

Entering their third SSN season, there is plenty of optimism that the Mavs are poised to take the next step up in their journey under new coach Gerard Murphy and assistant Nicole Richardson.

“Jamie-Lee Price in the midcourt is a massive get from the Australian Diamonds,” McDonald said.

“She’s provided a real engine room and a real strength through the midcourt to link the two ends.

“Gez (Murphy) coming in as the new coach, alongside Richo, who has been there a really long time with these girls, has been a really nice balance of new and old.

“We’ve got some tools to build with throughout the season, but the hard part is you can play practice matches and train time and time again, but until you get into the matches it’s hard to work out what teams are doing.

“We’ve definitely found improvement … My game has improved during this pre-season, but I’m sure everyone will say the same.

“I’m sure round 1 will be a very good test and the hope is that every game after that we’ve learned something from the previous game.”

While her long journey has all been part of the learning curve for McDonald, she is certain there are steeper lessons and challenges ahead.

But she is ready to embrace the opportunities and meet them head-on.

“I have shifted into the midcourt the last two seasons, having played goals since I was a little tacker, but you are always learning,” McDonald said.

“It’s been a really big challenge for me to take on that role, getting comfortable using different skills in wing attack, and just being comfortable that I’m ready to play this level.

“It’s taken such a long time for me to get here.

“Having that belief that I can go out and contribute to this team in my own way – that would be my biggest goal.”

The Mavs v Giants clash at Red Energy starts at 5pm.

For tickets, visit premier.ticketek.com.au/shows/Show.aspx?sh=MAVGIA26