NETBALL
BY BLAKE METCALF-HOLT
GIANT milestones have been reached in the North Gippsland Football-Netball League in recent weeks.
Glengarry Football-Netball Club celebrated the monster 38-year-and-counting career of Erin Riseley reaching 400 games at the weekend.
The club’s games record holder was deservedly honoured in the lead-up to the weekend, and the Magpies were able to get the chocolates in the C Grade match against Heyfield, 33 to 30, with Riseley playing in her typical position in defense.
Growing up in Glengarry and beginning in the Magpies colours in 1988, Riseley said the town and club will always hold a special place in her heart.
“I guess if I had girls instead of three boys, I may have stopped many years ago, but Saturdays are my days to hang out with all the girls,” she said.
“I love watching the game and working out where each ball will go for the next intercept.
“These days I love watching young local girls come through to play seniors and flourish on the court.”
Riseley added that she loves the competitive nature of the game, obsessed with working out how her opponents play and then besting them.
Riseley is woven into the fabric of the club, serving seven stints as netball coach across a variety of junior and senior teams.
Awarded life membership in 2021, Riseley has captured four B Grade premierships and a Under 17 flag in 1996, and earned two C Grade best-and-fairest awards along the way.
TRARALGON-TYERS United FNC also celebrated Kellie Arend with 400 games recently.
The Bombers C and D Grade player featured in a 50-19 win on her special day at home against Churchill in Round 9.
Arend was celebrated by the club and her teammates, becoming the first netballer and second person overall to reach 400 games for TTU alongside Chris Buckley, throwing on the goal attack bib like in the past and scoring two goals.
“I felt the love not just from TTU but from lots of people from other clubs and netballers that I have played against,” she said.
Arend arrived on the special day to big ‘400’ balloons, sweets and a bouquet of flowers.
Netballers and footballers then lined up on the court before her milestone match, and led Arend through the banner.
In the heat of battle, Arend was handed the goal attack bib, which she donned throughout the highs of her career, scoring two goals to loud cheers.
The two-time club best-and-fairest and 2013 D Grade premiership player said that arriving at Bomberland back in 2003, following a callout from her sister that they needed more players, has given her a reason to get up every Saturday since.
“It is an absolute privilege to take the court every week for TTU (and) I am so grateful for every opportunity I’ve been given to play, and for the belief and trust that has been shown in me over the years,” she said.
“Four hundred games is something I am incredibly proud of, but it’s the people behind those games at TTU that have made the journey so special.”
Arend was inducted as a life member at TTU in 2016, and has served a variety of roles including D Grade coach, umpire coordinator, uniform coordinator, committee member and netball executive committee member, among others.
