NETBALL
MID GIPPSLAND
BY BLAKE METCALF-HOLT
TWO steps forward, one step back is still one step forward.
While Thorpdale Football-Netball Club revealed that they will not field an A Grade side in 2026, the Blues still have a bright future ahead.
Despite not housing a top-level senior team for the second time in four seasons, Thorpdale has set its focus on juniors, and are fielding under 13s, U15s and U17s teams for the first time in several years.
This is the first time the Blues have fielded junior sides of any kind since 2022, let alone all three.
As for the future of its A Grade team, the Mid Gippsland Football-Netball League is said to be working closely with struggling clubs to attract and develop players and coaches during a period of uncertainty.
The ability to cultivate a fully-fledged junior program once more means that sustainability at Thorpdale is near.
Thorpdale FNC junior netball coordinator Jorjie Platschinda arrived at the club in 2023, noticing a struggle for numbers across senior grades and little juniors in sight.
With an extensive basketball coaching background at the Moe Meteors, Platschinda made it a goal to help build those foundations once more at Thorpdale.
“I tried so many people that I knew personally just to see if they would swap clubs, but it’s a hard process when you haven’t had junior teams for how many years and you’re trying to recruit,” she told the Express.
“Our seniors are also sitting on the bottom of the ladder every year, (so) it definitely makes it harder, but what’s the worst that’s going to happen, people are going to say no?
“It was just trying to see if kids were still interested in playing netball, even if it wasn’t their preferred club.”
Now that a lot of the hard yards are behind them, Platschinda added that there is a great feeling around the club.
“We’re really excited for the juniors – it’s a big step for Thorpy,” she said.
That even extends to the senior unit, who despite struggling in each grade for a number of years, still have players show up, week-in, week-out.
“Obviously, our seniors haven’t been great, but we’re still getting numbers, and I think that’s the most important part, we’re still really optimistic, still persistent, that’s what the club is built on,” Platschinda said.
Platschinda, last year’s A Grade co-captain, finished by saying that the resurrection of its junior program will create a clearer pathway for players to eventually filter into senior grades.
“We’re just trying to build from the ground up pretty much,” she said.
“Getting that development, getting those girls, getting that confidence in them to further develop into the senior grades, hopefully, and then that way we can eventually field an A Grade side consistently.”
The U13s will be coached by Paityn Draper and Alex Hopkins takes on the U15s, while Platschinda will coach the U17s.
Thorpdale’s U15s of 2022 was the last time the club had a junior team, in which they finished second on the ladder and reached the preliminary final.
Other than that, the Blues haven’t featured a junior program at all since before the pandemic.
Thorpdale applied for and were granted an exemption by the MGFNL from fielding an A Grade side in 2026.
“The MGFNL executive and netball VP supported Thorpdale throughout the 2025 season to field both A Grade and B Grade by allowing players to over qualify and play extra games,” a league statement read.
“However, with only a small squad of players this has become untenable in 2026 due to further player injuries, work and family commitments, and lack of junior players to play in senior teams.
“Other clubs in the league have shown understanding and support to Thorpdale as they know in the small communities that we live in, finding and retaining players with the skills and abilities to play A Grade can be challenging and they could be in the same situation themselves in future years.”
Unfortunately, this isn’t something new for Mid Gippsland’s A Grade competition, as Thorpdale were previously granted a year’s grace in 2023, as was Hill End in 2024.
Each have been able to rebound to field an A Grade side the following year, although Thorpdale didn’t manage a win in their two seasons back on the court.
The Blues and the Rovers matched up in Round 6 last year, with Hill End winning narrowly by one-goal at Thorpdale Recreation Reserve.
Last season’s A Grade coach, Laura Whitney has taken the reins of Thorpdale’s B Grade side for 2026.
