The ball is in the court of the Mount Gambier Netball Association (MGNA) which will play one game a week in the Wulanda Recreation and Convention Centre during the upcoming winter season.
The first game will kick off on April 29 with the Anzac Day round as last year’s A Grade premiership winners Intruders and runner up Hobitz battle it out for the coveted inaugural indoor win.
Mount Gambier Netball Association president Cindy Launer said she was excited for all six association clubs to have the opportunity to play indoors in a first for the South East region.
“I’m excited that our association has the opportunity to use those facilities and hopefully it’s ongoing (especially after) what the Mount Gambier Netball Association has sacrificed for the facilities to be built there,” she said.
“It’s a great opportunity, I think it’s going to be great for our community and great for our players because once they get exposed to those indoor facilities, we’re sort of coming up to the level of what metro has.
“What they’re o1ffered when you play state league and our national league, getting the opportunity to play on that early as young kids and hopefully some of our adults, it’s really exciting.
“It’s a totally different ball game when you play on different grounds or facilities and that’s going to add a whole new level to the competition.
“When you’re indoors it’s totally different, it’s a faster playing game and the courts will be different to play on.”
Mrs Launer said she was hoping the new facility attracted state and national level netball, showing the younger country netballers what was possible in the sport.
“It’s right next door and that’s the great thing for our kids and for the future of netball because I’m hoping that some of the state league stuff will be brought down to us and that further exposes our children to opportunities they have there for them,” she said.
“We have huge representation of country kids going to those levels and I’m hoping having that very first foundation stuff down here now at Mount Gambier they can progress through their netball.
“Hopefully we can get state level to come back down to regional country areas, that’s my hope but the way things are, it’s sort of like metro-based.
“I’m hoping that now they find out we have these great facilities here, they can run some more (regional games) and really open that up to our region.”
Vicis Netball Club president Briana Seagar said it was an exciting experience especially for young members of the club.
“We’re actually pretty excited to be able to play indoors and have a different experience because it’s not like any of us have really played indoors before so we are really excited for the new opportunity and to get in and see what the courts are like,” she said.
Hobitz Netball Club president Lisa Rainy agreed, stating the prospect would be beneficial to players of all ages and provide a unique experience playing indoors that was previously inaccessible.
Meanwhile, Saints Netball Club president Paige Carter said it was a big drawcard for the town.
“For the younger kids to grow up playing indoors is pretty cool, when you watch Suncorp they play on an indoor court and now we finally get to do that in a little town like Mount Gambier as well,” she said.
“When you watch the big games you think ‘it would be cool to play on these courts’ and now we kind of get to do it.”
Zodiac Netball Club president Kat Cooper said it was rewarding to have the opportunity to play at the new sports development after having car parks and 4-5 courts taken away for the sport centre’s build.
“The construction of the Wulanda Recreational Centre caused an imposition on clubs and families but now all grades will have the chance to play netball indoors which is pleasing to see,” she said.
The consensus around the clubs is that it is an exciting opportunity as reiterated by Amazon Netball Club president Emma McGregor.
“Obviously playing outdoors in rain, it’ll be really terrific just to experience that difference,” she said.
“I mean personally myself I have never played indoors before other than social series so it’s going to be really good.
“We’re just really looking forward to the season ahead and being able to really utilise this amazing facility, it’s a really good asset for Mount Gambier.”
Intruders Netball Club president Cath Dycer said it will be an exciting time and a new era for the Mount Gambier Netball Association clubs.
“I think it’s going to have a positive impact for the association as a whole so I’m really looking forward to it,” she said.
“It’ll be an experience for the netball players from all age groups right from juniors up to the top grade but also it will be a bit of a drawcard in that as well because with the association we’re lucky we can just drive to one spot to play our games, there’s no travel required.
“Now to be able to play games inside as well as outside especially in our chilly cold winter, it will be a positive influence and impact on our club.”
