In the six-year history of the Origin Energy Premier League there has been plenty of player movement between franchises, but sometimes you find an athlete who’s determined to make herself a one-club woman. That’s Ash Fong.
While the player merry-go-round can be attractive to some, for the 2020 President's Medal recipient there has only ever been eyes for the yellow of North Shore United (NSU).
“I understand that players may need to move associations to develop their playing careers but I have always been a one-club woman which I take a lot of pride in,” she says.
“Ku-Ring-Gai and NSU have made it very easy for that to happen. Being a part of NSU is more than being part of a team; it has a really supportive community, driven by our clubs (Ku-ring-gai and Norths), families, and coaching and support staff.
“The most enjoyable part of my NSU experience and the reason why I’ve stayed is because of the friendships I’ve made. These girls are inspiring, caring and hilarious.”
The current NSW Swifts team talk about the importance of liking each other off court being one of the keys to their Super Netball Premiership success. It seems NSU, who won last year’s Opens Premier League title, think in a similar way.
“Despite seeing each other three times a week already, we actually enjoy each other’s company outside of netball,” Fong says. “We have very different personalities, but we hang out a lot. I think that lays the foundation for a good club culture.”
Last year’s title success had a lot to do with the coaching of former Swift, GIANT and Diamond Bec Bulley. And while Bulley may have been elevated to the Super Netball coaching ranks in 2021, another leading Swift, GIANT and Diamond in Kim Green has joined the NSU setup.
“We were extremely spoilt to have Bec Bulley previously, so we’ve been able to build on some solid foundations that Bec has laid in the last couple of years, but Kim has slotted in seamlessly,” Fong adds.
“She has brought some new perspectives and skills from her playing experience to add a bit of flair into our game, particularly in attack.
“She understands the needs of individual players and how to get the best out of us. I’ve really appreciated how open and approachable she’s been.”
Looking to try something new, Fong took time out from netball to play rugby union. She enjoyed her time in the oval-ball code and learning a new game allowed her to refresh and come back to netball with a different perspective.
“[Rugby was] bad for the body but good for the mind,” she says, no doubt referring to the bigger hits she encountered on the footy field.
“I needed to take a step away from netball to think about why I played. In the years prior to my break, I was just going through the motions of playing and I felt like I had plateaued.
“Moving to rugby for two years was a good decision because it gave me clarity and made me appreciate what I valued in a sport, which was in front of me the whole time.
“I think, deep down, I knew I’d come back to netball.”
And while netball was always her No.1 sport, even Fong could see the difference in the game after a few years out.
“Coming back from my break, I was blown away with how fast the game had become!” she adds.
“It’s definitely more aerial, physical and skillful. There’s a lot more exposure to the league as a result of the live streaming; Bar TV (in previous years) and Cluch (from 2021) have done a great job in streaming games on all courts now, as well as having commentary from Britt Carter (ABC Grandstand) on Show Court.
“This also gives a really accessible platform for franchises to analyse other teams’ performances. And adding in two new teams last year has made it more competitive and taps into a lot more talent across the state and the ACT.”
As one of the oldest athletes in the 2021 competition, Fong has to balance work and training a little more than some, but she has the support of her club. Also, Premier League can be a release from the stresses of everyday life.
“This is something that we addressed at the start of the year. We’ve created a really great culture where the girls can be honest and normalise conversations around feeling overwhelmed with work/life/netball commitments.
“Sometimes it feels like you're juggling ten things at a time and somehow, every year, you make it work. But we’ve spoken about the importance of prioritising ‘Rest and Recovery’ days and checking in on yourself.
“I love how competitive Premier League is. It’s challenging physically and mentally and I think for a lot of older players it’s good to have something outside of work that provides a release.
“As soon as we step onto the court for training or a game, your day is left at the door and you’ve got your netball hat on now which is really refreshing.
“It’s a way to reset. Obviously, the social aspect is a big driving force as well.”
NSU Opens are three from three so far this season, a pretty good start from the defending champions, however, Fong knows they can’t afford any let-up.
“The long season will mean that putting out consistent performances will be tough, as well as the teams having their ANL players available for the whole season.
“But we’ve made a bit of a mantra out of ‘banking and building’ from last year’s efforts. We know that we’ve got a target on our backs after last year, but to be in this position is a privilege.
“It will take a lot of hard, consistent work to go back-to-back this year but the girls welcome the challenge.”
So far so good for Fong and company.
