Netball may be the clear leader for women and young girls when it comes team sport, but to suggest that it’s only popular with that demographic is one the great myths of Australian sport.
Contrary to the narrative spun by the game’s detractors, netball has always been a game enjoyed by all. Mixed netball is one of the most popular forms of the game, while competitive men’s netball is not a recent concept.
It’s fair to say the establishment hasn’t always been great to pivot when it comes to change, but finally there is movement.
Just ask NSW and Australian representative Eugene Lee, who now also plays the Netball NSW Men’s Metro League.
“I started playing when I was seven-years-old in Year 3 back at Westmead Public School,” he recalls. “My teacher was the PSSA coach and got me to trial for the mixed team and I was hooked playing up till Year 6.
“However, I wasn't aware of any pathway after that and didn't play again until Year 11 where there was the Schools State Knockout Comp that boys teams were entered.
“From there I got asked to trial for the NSW U17s team and made my first state team. Since then I've worked through the NSW and Australian pathways of U17s, U19s, U23s and have been in the NSW and Australian Open Men’s programs since 2017 and 2018 respectively.”
As well as the Men’s Metro League, in which Lee represents Inner Western Suburbs, Netball NSW also introduced male divisions to the State Titles for the first time. COVID-19 resulted in the initiative being introduced later than intended, but despite the delay Lee says it was a very welcome development.
“Firstly, a big thank you to Netball NSW for taking a gamble and working with Men’s Netball NSW to bring this about,” he says.
“As one of those young boys who nearly gave up the sport entirely because there wasn't a clear pathway, I think it would mean the absolute world to those players. Not only is it creating opportunities for participation and retaining talent, but it's also helping grow the sport to show that netball can be a global sport for everyone no matter your gender.
“Even from the brief taste of Junior State Titles this year, we have boys who now know there are opportunities for them to continue playing at all ages and strive for their goals of possibly representing NSW and even Australia in the future. It's definitely an exciting future to look forward to with where men’s netball can go.”
Ku-ring-gai’s Steven Philpot is delighted he finally has the chance to represent his home Association in the Metro League.
“It wouldn't have felt right being at any other Association but my home, and it really has been a dream to represent Ku-ring-gai for a long time - now I finally have the chance,” he says.
“It's always felt unfair I suppose that I have so many female friends who have all these opportunities to play netball and ours have been so limited, or we have rarely received recognition for the effort we put in to participating in netball.
“I hope and expect that being involved in Metro League will change this and provide the exposure and inclusion we've always wanted.
“I started when I was 17 or so. I was playing in a social comp and was invited to play in the NSW men's junior teams at the time. I loved it so much that I said yes before my coach, now a great friend, had an opportunity to finish his sentence. Since that time, I followed the men's pathways until eventually making it to NSW Opens and Australian teams.”
It may have taken a while to come to fruition, but the recent State Title and Metro League developments have given Philpot genuine optimism for the future of the men’s game.
“It's really important that young people see themselves in whatever sport, organisation, or activity in which they participate,” he adds.
“For netball, this kind of visibility means that a young boy who wants to play netball sees a place for themselves as they grow up. This is particularly important for a sport like netball, which has traditionally been viewed as only a women's game, and any young boy or man who plays has been vilified simply for wanting to play the sport they love.
“I, and I'm sure everyone else in Men's Netball NSW, am really looking forward to having our numbers grow over the next few years, and State Titles and Metro league are the competitions instigating this progress.”
It’s a starting point, which much more left to be done, but Philpot is delighted nevertheless.
“I cannot tell you the joy I feel to finally be included in a sport that I have given around 15 years of my life to.”
