Long-time sports administrator Shane O’Sullivan has seen netball from almost every angle - as a brother, parent and admirer, then as a leader, supporter and decision-maker, and always with its best interests firmly at heart.
As the eldest of eight children growing up in the country town of Bunyip, winter Saturdays were spent with his siblings at the local recreation reserve, where the six O’Sullivan boys and two girls played in the West Gippsland footy and netball competitions, respectively.
Now 68, O’Sullivan recalls finals time at nearby Cora Lynn, where the early afternoon crowds watching the netballers rivalled those for the footballers who followed. Fond, too, are the recollections of evenings socialising in the Bunyip clubrooms, which - as in many regional areas - double as the community’s social hub.
As the father of three daughters - Lillian, Scarlett and Gussie - O’Sullivan then became a netball dad and chauffeur, increasing his involvement in a sport at which Lillian, a former state representative, under-age captain and Melbourne Phoenix squad member, particularly excelled.
“I must admit when Lil was coming through she was on the Phoenix list for a while… and gee whiz, to watch Sharelle McMahon and Bianca Chatfield and Natasha Chokljat and all these girls - the way they trained, I thought ‘oh, my God, I wish some of the (AFL) boys would come and watch!’. Even how competitive they were at training was fantastic.’’
As a respected football figure who has worked in senior positions with Footscray, the Brisbane Bears and Carlton almost continuously since 1979, it was about a dozen years ago that the man known for his can-do attitude took a call from Gillian Lee, the then coach of Melbourne Central - which became Monash and and is now Hawks - in the VNL’s predecessor, the State League.
“Gill Lee, who’s a great netball person here in Victoria, rang me to see if I’d get on the committee, and by the end of the conversation she had me (taking over as) president!’’ O’Sullivan says.
“That’s basically how it all started, and I’ve really enjoyed it. I’ve got no daughters playing now, but I’m still here. All my family say ‘well, surely you’re giving it away?’ and I say ‘no, no, one more year to do this and do that’.
“So I’m still involved, and still keen to try to give the girls a great experience at club level, try to make it more professional and help lift the profile as much as we can.
“There’s been some tough times, but you get great pleasure when you see the girls even get new outfits or whatever; just the look on their faces, it’s quite rewarding, whereas I’m in an environment in AFL footy where they just expect it.’’
Significantly, Big Ant Studios has signed-on as the club's major sponsor for the next four years, which will help subsidise playing expenses and pay quality coaches and medical staff. Hawks are now training - and hope to play regular home games - at the new Oakleigh Recreation Centre, and continue to have strong ties with not just the Hawthorn FC, but the Gippsland Storm, while striving to increase opportunities for talented country players.
“I want us to be a club that’s not standing still,’’ O’Sullivan says. “Whether we’re winning all the time is another thing, but it’s about just trying to come up with different ways of going about things. Sometimes I think I’m too much of a dreamer and probably drive people mad, but anyway…!’’
As a Netball Victoria board member for eight years, O’Sullivan’s next view of Australia’s leading participation sport for women and girls was an occasionally frustrating but ultimately fulfilling one.
While never made to feel uncomfortable as the only male director during his long tenure, there were what he calls “some really good hearty discussions” about the sport’s willingness to be bold and ambitious, rather than retreating when financially or otherwise challenged.
“If you have a go, you never know what can open up for you, and to see that sort of change in attitude in my time was great: backing themselves to go out and get sponsors and keep trying to grow the game, because when I first started, if something went wrong ‘well, we’ll have to cut this and cut that’. That’s just taking an easy way out - you’ve got back yourself in a bit.’’
The long-awaited $64.6 million redevelopment of the State Netball Centre, due for completion this year, was a particular coup for which O'Sullivan applauds the team led by CEO Rosie King and president Richelle McKenzie. “That was pretty exciting to be there when that got ticked off and done. There’s been lot of growth.’’
For the Carlton Football Club’s football administration manager since 1994 and recent recipient of AFL Life Membership, there is also enduring respect and admiration for netball’s playing elite.
Such as, for example, when the F1 Grand Prix takes over Albert Park, - which includes the Melbourne Vixens’ regular training venue, the VIS - and the reigning Super Netball champions thus shift temporarily to the Blues’ home at Ikon Park.
“They’re such an elite group, and terrific young people who appreciate what’s being done for them and the sport,’’ O’Sullivan says. “I think it’s a good sign for the game, too, that even our coaches were rapt to have them here; just for the boys to see how hard they worked and went about things.
“I think the girls in the future are going to be very lucky because of what’s been done before them, way back to Sharelle and Eloise Southby, Cath Cox - all these people that have set the scene. The future for all these girls is just going to be fantastic.’’
And the future for netball, generally?
Given his seniority and longevity at a major football club that has emerged from the financial doldrums to become debt-free and log a record membership of almost 80,000, does O’Sullivan have any advice for the other sport to which he has contributed so much?
“I think it’s in a pretty good place. Even with COVID, I thought the coverage for Super Netball was really good. So many people were looking for sport to watch that I think it was a good thing for netball, and so many of the games were just outstanding.
“I honestly can’t believe that the Vixens haven’t got 10,000-plus members. It just astounds me when they’re such a great team and terrific young people. It’s always amazed me, and something that just has to be worked really hard on, because turning the people who come along to watch games into members would make such a difference.
“But, from when I started, netball's really heading in a great direction. Hopefully it gets more and more professional, and I think the girls are finally starting to get some rewards for all the efforts that the players before them have made.’’
Find out more about the Victorian Netball League.
Take a look at Melbourne Vixens membership options here, with 3-game memberships starting at $56.
Find out more about Netball Victoria's Strategic Plan.
Written by Linda Pearce
