Stef celebrates 500 games
With her signature “Steffi dodge” move and graceful goaling, Ellinbank netballer Stefanie Backman has caused headaches for many defenders over her long career.
On Saturday against Nilma Darnum, Stef achieved yet another milestone - becoming just the second netballer at the club to achieve 500 games.
The much-loved figure at the Eagles Nest has won an amazing seven premierships, and is hoping to add yet another before the year is out with her B grade team currently undefeated.
Returning from three years off and the birth of son William, Stef believes she has “a few more years” in the tank.
“I’ll play for as long as the old bod lets me,” she said.
Speaking of Saturday’s milestone, Stef said “playing 500 games for a fantastic club” was her great achievement in netball, closely followed by a three-peat of B grade premierships.
“I was nervous beforehand, it felt just like a final. But once we started, it was really like any other game.”
Over her 28 years playing in the Ellinbank District netball league, Stef says Jo Gaul was the best player she had shared a court with. Fittingly, Jo also achieved the 500 game milestone earlier this season.
With Jo indicating her retirement at the end of this season, the stage is set for Stef to become the club’s longest serving player next year.
Her toughest opponents include Michelle Meggetto and Nancy Rintoule earlier in her career, and Danielle and Kirrilly Bridger in more recent times. But she admits it’s a tough call, given the calibre of defenders across the years.
Her favourite game was her first senior premiership, when Ellinbank lifted the B grade trophy in 2011.
Stef was 10-years-old when she started playing netball at Ellinbank as part of the newly established F grade competition. It didn’t take her long to taste success, being part of the 1996 F grade premiership side.
She went on to play 144 junior games over eight seasons, and notched up another junior premiership along the way.
The promising and ever-reliable goaler moved into A grade for many years, recently named in the club’s 2000-2009 team of the decade side.
Making the move to B grade, Stef has been key to this team’s success. Playing a humble and graceful game, she has dodged around and used her game smarts to win five B grade premierships.
A natural leader on and off the court, she has filled many volunteer roles at Ellinbank. She has been a captain, coach and netball coordinator and was awarded life membership in 2014.
Stef was inspired to pull on the blue and yellow netball dress by her mum Bev Backman who played some 350 games.
“We grew up with netball, spending every Thursday night and Saturday watching mum train and play.”
“I also did Netta Netball with Gabriel Draisma before I was old enough to play club netball. That definitely grew my love of the game.”