Ballarat is excited. Long-time Wendouree Netball Association administrator Jordan O’Keefe is somewhere beyond ecstatic. This weekend, 370 days after they were originally due to play state rivals Collingwood, the Melbourne Vixens are finally coming to town.
“On a scale of one to 10 it’s probably about a 12,’’ says O’Keefe with a laugh when asked how thrilled he is about hosting the 10-11 April double-header between the Vixens and the Adelaide Thunderbirds.
“It’s unparalleled. Not only if you’re a supporter of netball, but for the sport itself in Ballarat and how much attention has been drawn to Ballarat, it’s just phenomenal.
“Particularly because of our football netball leagues, and the amount of participation in the sport, netball’s just massive here, and with all the work that Vixens have done, and being the only Victorian club for so many years before the Magpies, they’ve got such a strong following here.
“And it’s like anything: when a club is successful your following increases anyway, so the timing of it is actually just right.’’
On O’Keefe’s desk is a framed autographed dress worn by his favourite player, star defender Emily Mannix, in the 2019 Indigenous round - a gesture of appreciation by Netball Victoria for the WNA’s successful reinvention, and acknowledgement of the unfortunate cancellation of last year’s much-anticipated pre-season game against the Pies.
Mannix also filmed a video message expressing regret that the Vixens couldn’t make it, but looking forward to 2021.
So here it is. Even with COVID capacity restrictions, 2250 fans will be permitted into the $24 million Ballarat Sports Events Centre for each game, with seats still available through Ticketek but a sellout likely.
Indeed, the only truly elite netball competition to be held in the historic regional centre was back in 2012 in the old two-court stadium, which hosted Netball Australia’s 21/U International Netball Series.
This will be far bigger, and Ballarat’s first major indoor event since the Coronavirus pandemic slammed the doors shut last March will come on the same afternoon as the AFL’s Western Bulldogs host the Brisbane Lions at nearby Mars Stadium.
Live sport is back in western Victoria, with plenty of room for all.
“As unfortunate as it was to not have the ‘Ballarat Battle’ with the Magpies last year, and the fact that the Vixens had to go away and play in a hub in Queensland, to go through all that and win the SSN trophy, if anything, that’s paid off, because there’s so much more interest in it,’’ says O’Keefe.
“There’s so much netball in the Central Highlands region and the fact that a lot of country netball doesn’t commence until next week it’s actually really good timing.
“With two major football netball leagues and two stand-alone netball associations, Ballarat is the epitome of what is a netball community, because you come across the same people across all these different organisations across a regular week, and some might play multiple games.
“So an event like this is such an opportunity for people to see more of it (at the professional level), and to bring a marquee team like the the Vixens rewards everyone who’s continued to support netball for years upon years.’’
O’Keefe, 39, is a netball - and Vixens - fanatic who has played the sport since the age of 10 (including for the Australian 23/U, Victorian reserves and Vic Country teams). He has coached, umpired (achieving his A badge in 2018), and worked since 2004 as a volunteer and now full-time competitions and programs manager for the WNA, which awarded him Life Membership in 2013.
Having attended regular Vixens training sessions as part of his umpiring development and appreciated the warm and inclusive nature of the extended group, O'Keefe is curious to see how the Vixens will adapt to life without retired goalers Tegan Philip and Caitlin Thwaites, and now also cover the injury to Watson, the lynchpin at wing attack.
"I always credit coming down and being involved at Vixens training for attaining my A-grade umpiring badge. I appreciate what Vixens did for me and I cannot wait to have them back at my home,'' says O'Keefe, a supporter since the Melbourne Pumas/Phoenix/Kestrels days.
The Ballarat visit is part of the Vixens “Bring It Home” campaign, which will see the Suncorp Super Netball championship trophy travel to parts of Victoria, highlighting stories in the netball community in the lead up to the grand final rematch at John Cain Arena on 1 May.
“The fact that we can take the Melbourne Vixens to regional Victoria means a lot to us. It supports the great participation that we have at grassroots level throughout regional Victoria and also gives everyone the opportunity to see elite netball, and I think is a great asset for our sport,’’ says Mel Taylor, Netball Victoria’s General Manager Netball Participation.
“I was personally devastated that we had to pull the pin on last year’s event at Ballarat Sports Events Centre, but thrilled that we get to go back and visit Ballarat again and showcase what is a great stadium and really highlight that asset for Ballarat and the whole of western Victoria. Super, super excited.’’
The Melbourne Vixens will host the Adelaide Thunderbirds this weekend at Ballarat Sports Events Centre on Saturday, 10 April at 4pm and Sunday, 11 April at 12pm.
Tickets are available through Ticketek.
Written by Linda Pearce
