News
Email - news@themooraboolnews.com.au
The Moorabool News – 14 June, 2022 Page 7
Champion nets 300 games By Lachlan Ellis A legend of the Springbank Football Netball Club has notched up 300 games – the first senior Springbank netballer to do so, adding another accolade to a career full of premierships and awards. Leane Mahar played her 300th game of netball for Springbank on Saturday 4 June at the Wallace Recreation Reserve, the milestone made even sweeter with a 33–24 win over Learmonth. Ms Mahar was given flowers, and walked through a guard of honour formed by fellow players and supporters as she took to the court. She said it was a love of the club, premiership success, and a love of netball that had kept her going for so long. “Friendships and premierships have kept me playing for so long…I’ve won seven premierships at Springbank, and played in a few losing ones too. It’s a fantastic club, it’s very family-orientated,” Ms Mahar told the Moorabool News. “I’m passionate about the club, and the friendships I’ve made along the way are irreplaceable. At one point in time, all the girls in the netball club I’ve either coached or played in the same team, whether it be A, B, or C Grade this year.” Ms Mahar admitted her 300th game was “a little bit emotional”, with the “overwhelming support from everybody”, including some people travelling three and a half hours to see her. As for the greatest moment of her netball career, she said it was a tie between the 2008 Grand Final, and playing netball with her daughter. “I was coaching in 2008, basically our
Friendships and premierships have kept me playing for so long. - Leane Mahar whole A Grade team had left. We’d won the premiership the last two years prior to that… but players get poached. Josie Donegan and I were the only two players in A Grade left from that premiership side,” Ms Mahar said. “Everyone said we were going to finish on the bottom of the ladder … we did lose a few games, but we made finals on percentage and went up against an undefeated Dunnstown and beat them in double extra time in the Grand Final. Josie had a shot after the first extra time and sunk it to keep us in the game, then in the second extra time we won by two goals. “I’ve won premierships since then, but nothing ever beats 2008. And obviously playing with 14-year old Maddy, playing together on the court this weekend was amazing. Hopefully we can qualify her, and she can keep playing this season, she plays in the Under 15s.” President of the Springbank Football Netball Club, Jason Carey, said Ms Mahar was not only successful on the court, but a great club person off it. “She’s done it all, Central Highlands Team of the Year, Best and Fairest, captain-coach of a premiership team in 2015, I don’t know where you start and stop, she’s just the complete package,” he said.
Leane Mahar soaks up her 300-game guard of honour with Springbank Netball Club members. Photos – submitted (Karen Tiley) “And she gives heaps back. We took on a young senior coach in the netball and she’s been a great mentor to him. Just the time and commitment, ongoing roles she picks up … this is my first year as President, I’ve certainly bounced heaps off her. She’s the ultimate club person.” As for aiming for 350 or even 400 games, Ms Mahar said she “wasn’t even sure I’ll retire at the end of the year”, but “would like to get to 350”. HISTORY Gordon FNC – 15 years – junior/senior – 1 senior premiership Springbank FNC – 20-years – 7 senior premierships
Leane Mahar was joined in the C Grade team by her 14-yo daughter Maddy.
Definition for The Wine & Deli Co:,
We source, celebrate and offer local goodness. Premium produce - simply done well
THE WINE & DELI CO - BALLAN
120 Inglis Street Ballan T: 0424 175 323 www.winedeli.com.au