Grubber relishes role in raising breast cancer awareness

A FAMILIAR face at Ocean Grove Netball Club says it is a tremendous “honour” and fills her with “pride” to be a part of another Breast Cancer Awareness Match, as the Grubbers take on Queenscliff tomorrow (Saturday, May 13) at Shell Road Reserve.

Ocean Grove defender Mia Smith, who will don the Grubbers’ all-pink uniform alongside her A Grade teammates and the rest of the netball program on Mother’s Day Eve, has witnessed first-hand the commitment displayed each year by the club when hosting the annual fixture.

“Off the top of my head, the Breast Cancer Awareness Game first took off around six or seven years ago, and to see the way it has grown has been terrific,” Smith said.

“It used to be just the A Grade side that would wear the uniforms, but that has since become a whole club thing to support it.”

Smith, a Grubber since the Under 11s, noted the importance of playing a game of this significance, as it surrounded an issue that touched everyone in one form or another.

“It tends to draw a lot of the community out,” she said.

“It really is an honour to be a part of the day because it’s something that affects everyone. The club turns pink on the day and it’s amazing.

“To make it even better, we get to do something we love and help get the word out for something as important as breast cancer.”

The Grubbers welcome a resurgent Queenscliff Coutas side to Ocean Grove to headline AFL Barwon’s Breast Cancer Awareness Round and capping off the region’s Female Festival of Sport.

Queenscliff, led by reigning league best and fairest Kaitlin Gladman, failed to make finals in 2022, but sit comfortably in a tie for third alongside Torquay.

Smith said it will take a whole-team effort to neutralise the Coutas, an effort that needs to be sparked by one of side’s biggest strengths – communication.

“We’re looking forward to Queenscliff, a must for us is coming out confident.

“We’ll need to strive for four quarters at 100 per cent without dropping off at any point.

“We have a really strong side this season, a lot of depth among the 12 of us which is a really big number, and we’ll need to play to our strengths.”

Ocean Grove and Queenscliff start play at 12.45pm.