Written by: Freelance journalist - Amelia Barnes
After 1086 days since their last nationals’ game, Victoria’s leading Men’s and Mixed Netball teams returned to the Australian Men's & Mixed Netball Association (AMMNA) Championships on April 17-23 2022 at Adelaide’s Netball SA Stadium.
The strength of Victoria’s athletes and pathways were on display over the week-long tournament, with all seven of the state’s teams making their respective division finals, five teams making the grand final, and two taking out premiership titles.
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In the Open Mens division, Victoria faced a tough battle against NSW. Both teams came into the competition with valuable experience under their belts, having recently played against Suncorp Super Netball teams in pre-season matches. NSW recorded a huge 77-46 win over GIANTS Netball, while Victoria beat the West Coast Fever 58-47. Players from both the NSW and Victorians teams also regularly train with the Melbourne Vixens, NSW Swifts, and GIANTS Netball.
Prior to the grand final at the AMMNA Championships, NSW and Victoria versed each other on three occasions throughout the week, with Victoria winning the first game by four goals (Round 3), and NSW reigning superior by 15 and 23 goals respectively on the remaining two occasions (Round 8 and the qualifying final).
Victoria was hoping for a repeat of their Round 3 efforts in the grand final to send off coach Christina Puopolo in her last game before retirement, concluding an incredible coaching career and mentoring the highest level for over 20 years.
Following an upset to beat Western Australia’s West Coast 54-42 in the preliminary final, Victoria was unfortunately outdone by NSW in the grand final, going down 67-41.
NSW were incredibly strong from the first whistle, with goal shooter Patrick Piliae’s 6-foot-8 inch stature and signature jump shot proving unstoppable even for Victoria’s most experienced defender, Alastair Punshon.
The ever-reliable Guy Keane presented at every opportunity at wing defence, yet NSW’s full-court defence stifled Victoria’s normally clinical transition down court.
Victoria’s shooting circle started with the experienced David Chisholm at goal shooter (who played for Australia from 2012-2013 and recently returned to the game after several years), joined by Jayden Cowling playing his first season at the Open Mens level. A mix up with fellow newcomer Cameron Allum joining Cowling in the second quarter was initially effective for Victoria, but NSW once again asserted their dominance to finish firmly in front 36-18 at half time.
With a 21-goal lead to claw back and only nine minutes to go in the third quarter, coach Puopolo brought Daniel King into GK, while Jake Hederics was moved into goal shooter for the first time all tournament. A regular defender, Hederics had stepped up throughout the week playing his first nationals for Victoria after moving from South Australia.
Cowling’s high release on the shot was beautiful to watch and Hederics made an impact with his agility, but NSW’s defenders earned plenty of ball back across the court to ultimately limit Victoria’s shooting volume in the third quarter.
NSW made no changes to their line up until well into the final quarter, where several players including NSW vice-captain and shooter Anton Stechiwskyj, and star defender Callum Price, came on to finish 67-41 at full time.
The win is NSW’s third Open Mens premiership since 2010 (when the competition expanded to include Mixed teams), equalling Queensland who have also won three, and catching up to Victoria who have won six titles.
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In the remaining divisions, Victoria’s 17 & Under Boys team won their grand final against South Australia’s Southern Dragons 60-42. The young Victorian team were the only undefeated team across the entire competition, winning all their games throughout the week by margins of at least 16 goals.
With only two teams in the 20 & Under Mens division, these teams competed in the 23 & Under Mens fixture until the grand final, which Victoria won convincingly 56-19 over QLD Regional.
The 23 & Under Mens team fell just short in their grand final against the QLD Suns. The team finished the first quarter up by two goals, but QLD quickly worked their way back into the game to win 49-45.
The Reserve Mens faced an even closer game, losing to NSW 44-41 in their grand final. After leading for almost the entire match, Victoria fought their way back to equal scores with less than seven minutes to play, until NSW again pushed away again to win by three.
In the mixed divisions, the Open Mixed team recorded solid wins over West Coast and NSW earlier in the week before meeting NSW in the elimination final. Victoria capitalised on early NSW turnovers to lead by two goals at quarter time, but NSW’s eventual 55-42 win was cemented with the entry of former Suncorp Super Netball and ANZ Premiership player Kristina Brice into goal attack at half time, backing up her brother Stephen Brice’s dominant goal shooter performance in the first half.
Last not least, it was a hotly contested game between Queensland and Victoria in the preliminary final of the Reserve Mixed division. Victoria were down 10 goals going into the last quarter, inspiring a valiant comeback led by captain Jamie Clark to bring the margin back to three with three minutes to play. Victoria won the last quarter 15-10, but Queensland’s overall lead was too big to overcome and the eventual premiers headed into the grand final with a 49-44 win.
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Replays of all grand final matches and more are available to watch on the AMMNA YouTube channel.
The next AMMNA National Championships will be held in Perth in 2023.
To keep up with Victoria's mixed and men’s netball teams, follow Victorian Men's & Mixed Netball Association on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.
Victoria team lists – 2022 AMMNA National Championships
Open Mens
Cameron Allum
David Chisholm
Jayden Cowling
Ely Harrison
Jake Hederics (Vice Captain)
Guy Keane
Daniel King
Tim Malmo (Captain)
Jake Noonan
Alastair Punshon
Riley Richardson
Brodie Roberts (Vice Captain)
Coach: Christina Puopolo
Assistant Coach: Shannon Bessell
Manager: Jen Dewhurst and Michael Hutchinson
Trainer: Amanda Ventura
Reserve Mens
Wade Aitken
Andrew Burgess
Simon Cartwright
Josh Clavarino
Jake Dambrauskas
Adam Franz (Vice Captain)
Daniel Loats
Steve McCallum
Alexander Nichols
James Robertson (Captain)
Joshua Smith
James Sutton
Training Partners: David Priddle and Kai Suzuki-McGauran
Coach: Alexia McConnell
Assistant Coach: Llon Riley
Manager: Jarrod Mills
Trainer: Jess Spiliopoulos
23 & Under Mens
Callum Baird
Tristan Comans
Hadley Dixon (Captain)
Thomas Hardwick (Vice Captain)
Adam Hoogwerf
Cameron Hughes
Anthony Maniapoto
Riley Owen
Ronan Pring
Ethan Spiteri
Coach: Craig Moore
Assistant Coach: Joshua Schultz
Manager: Victoria Febbo
Trainer: Emily Stephens
20 & Under Mens
Charlie Bellette
David Capron
Josh Feeney
Joshua Fell
Tom Fisher
Zac Giliam
Benjamin Gosbell
Connor Lilly
Jacob Mudie
Flynn Pospisil (Vice Captain)
Quinn Spencer (Captain)
Luke Williams
Coach: Esther Latimour
Manager: Narelle Costello
Trainer: Victoria Delaney
17 & Under Boys
Joel Brown
Blake Cachia
Hudson Ebbage
Terron King (Captain)
Harrison Lefebure
Joshua Lorback
Ryan Lovell
Zac Mabilia
Brodie McCleish (Vice Captain)
Jamie Shannon
Zachary Vesovic
William Whiteacre
Training Partners: Eric Billing, Christian Doukas, Kane Wilson, and Hayden Zani
Coach: Brieannan De Jong
Manager: Jacqui Spencer
Trainer: Michael Davis
Open Mixed
Jed Christian
Caitlin Cooke
Sam Dugan
Annabelle Gorman
Georgia Hellyer
Joshua Keppel
Billy Mahoney (Co-Captain)
Dale Mason
Rylee Nelson (Co-Captain)
Elly Randall
Ella Spencer
Daniel Stone
Sam Sylvester
Coach: Matthew Cooke
Assistant Coach: Tammy Karkanarkis
Manager: Tracey Matthews
Trainer: Zoe Ludington
Mixed Reserves
Bridget Ryan
Tarnee Adams
Kurt Thompson
Joshua Wells
Ally Black
Jamie Clark
Jamie O’Hare
Ryan Towers
Lauren Hucker
Jarryd Pentony
Brendan Nick
Finlay Gustus
Jessica Black
Training Partner: Aleysha King
Coach: David O'Hare
Assistant Coach: Brent Holtham
Managers: Lynn Capron and Niamh Vahland
Trainer: Jesse Castillo
