Stacey’s leading way to London

IF you had told Stacey Vagg a few years ago she would be playing netball for Australia there is no way she would have believed you.

The main reason was that at the time, Vagg was not playing the sport she enjoyed so much as a junior.

The 34-year-old had played when she was at primary school, but it was only after her friend turned down a request to go out one night that she started playing netball and fell in love with the game again.

“I asked a friend if they wanted to go out for a drink and they said they couldn’t because they were playing netball on Friday nights,” Vagg said.

“At first I thought I’d go down for a look and then I started playing, and that was how I got into it (again).

“That would have been a couple of years ago.”

Vagg plays for the St Joseph’s All Abilities team on Friday nights at Kardinia Park, and watches the senior teams at Drew Reserve on Saturdays whenever she can.

Her coach, Rachel Bell, plays for Joeys and has been one of the goal shooter’s biggest inspirations.

Now, after plenty of hard work at improving her game each week, Vagg has been selected to go to England for the Special Olympics, where she will represent her country against teams mostly from the United Kingdom.

She said while she took the great news in her stride, her family was quite emotional when they found out.

“As soon as I told dad he started crying,” she said.

“But they were looking for women to play and I was registered for Special Olympics for basketball, so they asked if I’d like to go overseas to play netball in London and I said yes.

“Sandra Lovell, from the Leisuretime centre, in Anakie, rang me and asked if I’d like to play.

“I went overseas when I was in school but nothing like this to London.

“It’s going to be one of the best things I’ve done.”

Bell said her star pupil had become a natural leader and would not be surprised if she was rewarded with a similar