The St Albans Caroline Springs Netball Association continues to go from strength to strength.
The association, which started in 1976, has competitions running seven days a week across three locations.
With Copperfield Secondary College in Sydenham and Caroline Springs Leisure Centre near capacity, the association this season started playing at Keilor Basketball and Netball Stadium.
Association committee member Leanne Cini said each year more teams were wanting to join.
“We’ve got ladies competitions, juniors … through to open, and mixed competitions,” she said
“It’s our first year playing at the new Keilor Basketball/Netball Stadium. The new and improved facilities boast an environment of enthusiastic talented players coming together in the one venue from juniors to senior level.”
On court, the association’s representative sides – known as the Westside Saints – have been mixing it with the best teams in the state.
Players from the association try out for the representative teams, with teams ranging from under-11s through to seniors playing at Parkville.
The teams have won several Parkville premierships across all age groups. Two under-13 and two under-15 teams represented the association at the state association championships in June.
Teams from across 106 associations took part in the event, with all four Saints teams making it to the finals. One of the under-15s teams went through undefeated to the title, the first in the club’s history.
“It’s huge for the west … years ago we could have only ever dreamed of getting a team together with this calibre of girls,” Cini said.
Former club members Morgan Mitchell and Maria Masei have represented Australia at junior level, while several players are members of local academies and involved with City West Falcons.
Cini said further expansion of the association was possible.
“Something is on the cards at Caroline Springs for an expansion of the stadium, while we’re looking at expanding to play more nights at Keilor,” she said.
“We’d like to run an all-abilities competition and look at the need for a boys competition.
“The Net Set Go program is running out of Sunshine CYW … we would like to get set up at Keilor.
