Growing up in Hamilton in south-western Victoria, Will Jamison saw few netball pathway options or male role models in the sport.
It wasn’t until he started playing a social mixed competition at university that he learned about the Victorian men’s team, which kickstarted his journey to represent the state and later Australia.
Jamison is now part of a new generation of men shaping the nation’s netball talent. Several of the men he played with are currently represented at the sport’s national level, including West Coast Fever head coach Dan Ryan and Reserves coach Guy Keane, and Vixens Academy head coach Gerard Murphy.
“When I was playing, the opportunities outside of playing probably weren’t as clear, so it's really nice to now see that in every aspect of netball – regardless of whether that’s being an official, coach, or a playing role – we're really seeing some talented and incredible men in that space.”
An agile defender, Jamison’s playing career highlights were captaining his country in 2016, winning multiple Australian Men's & Mixed National Championships, and being named player of the tournament at a World Men’s Invitational competition in New Zealand.
He started coaching while still playing netball under the mentorship of former Australian men’s coach Christina Puopolo and current Victorian 19/U head coach AJ Ballantyne, who were then coaching the Ariels in the Victorian Netball League (VNL).
“AJ and Christina are quite different coaches so that gave me the opportunity to learn different perspectives and then find my own sort of style of coaching,” Jamison said.
“I'm very much a student of the game, so I really like to understand the different strategies, craft, and techniques that go into netball.”
Jamison took a break from the sport but was inspired to return to coaching at South Warrnambool (playing in the Hampden Football Netball League) upon moving from Melbourne to Warrnambool.
“When I got back into it in 2022 it really just was about being involved in the club and meeting new people given that I'd recently moved, and it just evolved from there,” he said.
His coaching impact at South Warrnambool was immediate, leading their Open netball team to a premiership for the first time in 32 years in 2022, followed by two more premierships in 2023 and 2024, and only a one-goal loss in the grand final this season.
Jamison has since taken up more coaching opportunities in the Netball Victoria pathway, most recently being appointed head coach of Netball Victoria’s Western Talent Academy.
This selective pathway program is a valuable step in the Netball Victoria athlete pathway, especially for regional based athletes who might lack proximity to other leagues.
“For regional players to get through that Victorian pathway, I think it's critically important,” said Jamison of Talent Academy. “It gives you a lot of clarity as a coach but also as an athlete on the type of skills and the type of expectations there are around technique and game play… and what coaches and selectors are looking for at those elite levels.”
Jamison said Victoria’s Western region punches above its weight, as indicated by the number of local athletes currently represented in pathway programs. Among the up-and-coming talent is South Warrnambool defender Ruby McKinley, and midcourter Sophie Smith, who are both in the current Victorian Elevate 17/U (top 25) squad.
“The top 25 in the state and we have two of them at South Warrnambool for that age group – that’s unbelievable," said Jamison.
South Warrnambool is also home to midcourter Ally O'Connor, who captained the Vixens Academy team in 2025 after claiming three Hampden league best and fairest awards in 2021, 2023, and 2024.
Other Western region netballers in the current 17/U Elevate squad are goaler Indi O'Connor who won the best on court medal in the 2025 Hampden grand final, and goaler Piper Stephens who won the Hampden 2025 Rising Star Award.
Eva Ryan is in the 19/U Elevate squad following selection in the 2024 Australian squad.
“I think that speaks to not only natural talent, but to some really well-run [local] clubs and some fantastic grassroots coaches who are prepared to support those athletes, and help them continue to go through that pathway when it might be that little bit more challenging if you're regionally based,” said Jamison.
Country football netball clubs are where many Victorian players get their start and are often the lifeblood of small communities. As a coach, Jamison is excited to work with these athletes across South Warrnambool and Talent Academy, helping them grow both on and off the court, and give back to the community.
“There's so much depth and talent in the regional areas, which is fantastic, but I think the sense of community and the sense of connection is just as valuable,” Jamison said. “That's the beauty of country netball.”
Find out more about Netball Victoria’s talent identification programs
