The best team in Ocean Grove netball history will be announced on Sunday as the club celebrates half a century of donning the court.
A selection panel handed with the monumental task of picking Ocean Grove’s best ever team will unveil their side at Ray Menzies Oval pavilion on a huge day of celebration.
Classic memorabilia, guest speakers, the three A Grade premiership trophies and more will be on display on August 11.
Director of Netball Gill Hodgson said the day will be a trip down memory lane.
“Hopefully many of them will be talking about the successes and the changes over that period of time and they’ve got trophies and old uniforms and bits and pieces of articles and photos and all of that sort of stuff to display,” she said.
“There has been a 200 game shield updated, so that will definitely be on display and hopefully there’ll be a few of the 200-game brigade there. It should be fun.”
The netball club began on August 11, 1974, with three senior sides and is now one of the largest in the region with six senior teams and 18 junior sides.
The netball component of a modern-day local club is now as important as the footy, and Hodgson said it might even be bigger.
“I think certainly the prevalence of women in sport, whether they’re playing netball or football, is growing at our club,” she said.
“We’re seeing girls and women participating in such strong numbers. And also seeing that transfer into positions on executives and having a leadership role, whether it’s in coaching or umpiring. It’s not just on the court, we’re really wanting to develop pathways as a club for expertise in coaching and in umpiring and in playing.
“It’s a good time to be involved and to be around the club and to have such high numbers from something that started as just a handful of teams and really just started with friendship and grew from that. And you look at all of the benefits of being involved in a club for young people these days, you’d be mad if you don’t have your child involved in community sport.
“It’s a place to grow friendships. It’s a place to find your mentors in life, to find lifelong friends and also to find your own resilience and what you’re capable of.”
The 50-year celebration begins at 11am on Sunday, August 11. Head to ogfnc.com.au or Ocean Grove Football & Netball Club on Facebook for details and tickets.
