Drouin netballers to represent state
Drouin District Netball Association athletes and coaches have been selected for several representative honours, including the Victorian All Abilities team to contest the Marie Little Shield.
Brooke Baker started playing in the 12 and unders with the Funnet Firebirds in the Drouin and District Netball Association winter competition in 2006 as a 10-yearold.
Brooke played for three seasons and then had a break from netball and started playing basketball.
Brooke played at an elite level representing Victoria in 2014, 2015 and 2016. Brooke also plays in the basketball Special Olympics team.
In 2016 Brooke was enticed back to netball by friend and coach Janet Parker. Brooke was a member of the Victorian All Abilities Development Squad and was extremely fortunate to make the team when one of the players had to withdraw.
Brooke travelled with the team to Sydney and was a valuable member, both in defence and as a goaler. The team missed out in playing in the grand final by just one goal, playing Western Australia for third place.
Brooke also played in the Latrobe Valley Region Netball Division 1 All Ability netball team, bringing home a silver medal.
This year Brooke was selected into the Victorian All Ability team, which has been renamed the Victorian Marie Little Shield team.
Brooke has shown great strength, agility and determination to succeed in her development as a defender and as a goaler. Brooke has an at home goaling program which has improved her accuracy from 64 per cent to 78 per cent.
This is not the only area in which Brooke has developed. She has successfully completed an online Foundation Coaching Course. Brooke is an accredited coach and often assists with coaching a team on Saturday mornings during the DDNA winter competition.
Brooke shows great compassion and sportsmanship on and off the netball court.
Brooke is a respected member of both the MLS state team, DDNA All Abilities teams and the LVNR team.
Sue Hoskin is an extremely valued member of both the DDNA and MLS teams.
Sue has represented Victoria for the past six years, having the honor of captaining the side in 2014.
Sue joined the Drouin and District Netball Association in 2014 and shows great skills both personally and professionally on the court, often sharing her knowledge with the junior players. Sue was instrumental in helping to set up the DDNA 2016 All Ability winter competition.
Sue also represents the Latrobe Valley Netball Region state titles team and her versatility is an asset on the court. Sue played in the LVNR premiership winning team in 2014.
Ayla Saul has only been playing netball for two years, but she has certainly crammed a lot into that short time.
In 2016 Ayla played in the DDNA Funnet Foxes 12 and under team and also represented the Latrobe Valley Netball Region in Division 1, bringing home a silver medal.
Ayla played in the DDNA All Abilities first winter competition.
This year Ayla is playing for Nilma Darnum in the 13 and under team and was also selected into the Victorian MLS Development Squad. Ayla will represent LVNR at the state titles in the All Abilities team again this year.
Erin Munkton has been a member of the DDNA since 2014, playing in the 12 and under winter competition. Erin joined the All Abilities team in 2015 and represented LVNR at the State Titles. In 2016 Erin represented LVNR in the Division 1 team, bringing home a silver medal.
Erin was selected into the Victorian MLS Development Squad and her goaling accuracy has jumped from 60 per cent to 80 per cent. Erin has improved tremendously since her involvement in the MLS Development Squad. Erin will also represent the LVNR at the State Titles in the All Abilities team again this year.
Janet Parker has been fortunate to coach the Victorian All Abilities State Team in 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017. The Victorians were extremely lucky to bring home the gold in 2014, winning by just one goal against New South Wales.
Janet started coaching at DDNA in 2004, starting up the Net-SetGo program, which is now in its 13th year.
Late in 2004 Janet approached the DDNA committee and asked to set up an All Ability program. This commenced with just one member.
In 2016 the numbers had increased to the point where it was possible to enter two teams into the DDNA Saturday morning competition. This year the members have increased to 40 and there is three teams playing in the DDNA winter competition.
In 2015 an All Ability Net-Set-Go program was introduced at DDNA. This has been extremely successful with three participants now playing in the nine and under mainstream competition.
In 2015 DDNA were finalists in the Netball Victoria Inclusive Centre of the Year award, before winning the prestigious award in 2016.