Written by Amelia Barnes
Players in the Victorian Netball League (VNL) will take to the court tonight in the competition's second annual First Nations Round, supported by RACV.
The VNL features several First Nations players across its 10 clubs and three divisions including Melbourne University Lightning athletes Gabby Coffey (also a Melbourne Vixens squad member) playing in the Championship division; Chenile Chandler (Division 1), and Tepaea Hobson (19&Under).
24-year-old Chandler is a proud Wurundjeri-Woiwurrung woman. She was initially signed to Melbourne University Lightning as a 2023 training partner but was recently elevated to the game day team in Round 9.
Chandler was in Sydney modelling at Australian Fashion Week when she got the phone call to make her VNL debut. She was able to change her flight home, and 24 hours later was on court with the Division 1 team for the very first time. “It was amazing! Everyone at Melbourne University and in the team are so supportive and helped ease my nerves,” Chandler said.
The talented and versatile wing defence/centre/goal defence has been in the Netball Victoria pathway since participating in NetSetGO, going on to represent Dandenong Valley in the 15&U and 17&U teams at the State Titles; the Victorian and Australian Indigenous School aged teams in 2014 and 2015; and the Lilydale & Yarra Valley Netball Association representative team.
Participating in her first VNL First Nations Round is something Chandler said is “going to be really special and something I won’t forget.” She says First Nations sporting rounds are valuable for bringing Indigenous culture and affairs to the forefront of society.
“I hope for us mob it brings a sense of pride that so many are coming together to celebrate our people and culture. I hope that it raises the important conversations that need to be had to help reconcile our nation,” said Chandler.
“I hope for non-Indigenous people, that they also feel a sense of pride in this round in celebrating the true history and culture of this country.
“I hope non-Indigenous people have the opportunity to be educated on the importance of recognising and respecting the First Peoples of the country and on other things such as the Voice to Parliament.”
Away from netball, Chandler is a model and singer who often performs in the Woiwurrung language, which she began learning as a teenager from her grandmother Aunty Joy Murphy. “It’s incredibly special,” Chandler said. “It grounds me and connects me to the land and ancestors. It’s also seen me perform on some pretty amazing stages too.”
One of those stages was at the MCG where Chandler and her grandmother recently performed the Welcome and Call to Country in Woiwurrung before Ed Sheeran’s record-breaking concert.
Chandler would like to thank Melbourne University Lightning for their support which she says “goes above what I have experienced in the game.”
“My Aboriginality is who I am to my core. My mob and culture drives everything I do,’ said Chandler. “I’m so grateful to pull on the Melbourne University dress every week.”
Tepaea Hobson is another First Nations player who will take to the court tonight in Melbourne University Lightning's 19&Under team. The 19-year-old goal defence/goal keeper is both a Tainui (Māori) and Dharug (Aboriginal Australian) woman.
Hobson has played netball since she was eight years old. “I first started playing because my friend needed a fill in for one game, but I instantly fell in love with netball and decided to keep playing.”
Since then, she’s represented Victoria in the 2019 School Sport Victoria State Team and was selected in the Under 15s All Australian team.
Hobson has played for Melbourne University Lightning since she was 17 when returning to court after an ACL injury.
“I cannot speak highly enough of Melbourne University Lightning as a club,” she said. “I am so honoured to represent such an amazing club and play alongside an amazing group of girls. I am happy to represent such strong motivating athletes as well as the hard working and determined coaches and physios.”
Hobson is strongly connected to her culture, which she’s proud to represent during First Nations Round.
“I will be representing both the First Nations of Australia and New Zealand, which is extremely exciting.
“I do think it is extremely important that the First Nations are to be celebrated throughout sporting rounds because they give so much to each sport, and it is a time to reflect and learn the history, sacrifices, cultures, and contributions and strength of First Nations people.”
Hobson’s goal is to eventually represent First Nations people playing the sport she loves for the Melbourne Vixens.
“Not only do I love the sport itself, but I love the social aspect and the people you meet along the way. Netball is a team sport, and the community of netball is pretty connected, so having the opportunity to form friendships is amazing,” said Hobson.
“I love the challenge netball provides each week, it is also amazing to see that netball is becoming more inclusive and diverse.”
All 10 VNL clubs will play tonight (Wednesday 31 May) at Parkville’s State Netball Centre during Round 11.
Four clubs will wear special First Nations dresses: Ariels (dress designed by Teghan Voce); Wilson Storage Southern Saints and Melbourne University Lightning (both designed by Bayley Mifsud), and Casey Demons (designed by Krstel Petrevski).
All VNL matches are open to the public and free to attend.
Tonight’s matches between Hawks Netball and Peninsula Waves will be livestreamed free on the Netball Victoria Facebook, and matches between Casey Demons and Melbourne University Lightning will be livestreamed via KommunityTV.
View the full VNL fixture
