The Victorian Men’s and Mixed Netball Association (VMMNA) hosted its 2024 MLeague season deciders on Wednesday night, with premiers crowned across six divisions.
Established in 2006, MLeague is Victoria’s premier men’s and mixed netball competition, providing an opportunity for talented male and female netballers to compete weekly at Parkville’s State Netball Centre.
Junior MLeague was established in 2018, with 14&U and 17&U boys divisions now offering a pathway for boys to continue their development with competitive match play.
“The 2024 MLeague season has demonstrated considerable growth, in particular in the participation of our junior athletes where we had an increase in team entries in the 14&U and 17&U divisions,” said VMMNA President Sonya Febbo.
“It has been incredible to see the Junior athletes demonstrating their skills and enjoyment for the game each week.
“The part that I love the most is seeing the 14&U and 17&U athletes stay and watch the Premier Men's and Mixed competitions, cheering for their coaches who are playing in those. It truly demonstrates our commitment to providing a pathway for boys and men to play this amazing sport.”
MLeague is a key step in the pathway to state and national representation, with many athletes selected in VMMNA’s squads for the annual Australian Men’s and Mixed Netball Association (AMMNA) Nationals tournament.
“MLeague continues to provide an elite environment for athletes, which strengthens our State Program immensely,” said Febbo.
“I truly feel that we are one of the strongest states for men's netball, due to the success of our MLeague program in providing an opportunity for our State athletes to compete against each other. Who doesn't love some healthy competition between friends?!
“In particular, it allows the athletes in our under-age teams to learn from and play with athletes from our Men's Open team, further enhancing their skills.”
At this year’s AMMNA Nationals tournament, all six Victorian teams qualified for the gold medal match in their respective divisions and four took out the title of national champions, including the Men’s Open side.
In 2024, VMMNA had 21 athletes selected in national squads – the most of any state or territory – including five Australian Kelpies, four of whom took the court in Wednesday’s MLeague finals.
“The MLeague Grand Finals demonstrated some exceptional talent across each division,” said Febbo.
“For me, the 17s Grand Final between Hoppers Crossing and WDNA Red which went into overtime was a highlight. It was a high-pressure game and was exciting to see the grit and determination of our future Open's athletes!”
2024 MLEAGUE GRAND FINAL RESULTS
14&Under
Hoppers Crossing NA Blue (37) def Casey NA (25)
Grand Final MVP: Paul Dinh
League MVP: Paul Dinh |
17&Under
Hoppers Crossing NA White (48) def by WDNA Red (49)
Grand Final MVP: Fred Soumalis
League MVP: Lawson McCleish |
Division 1 Mixed
Eastside Sonics (47) def by Western Firebolts Mixed Purple (55)
Grand Final MVP: Rochelle Teiri
League MVP: Blake Cachia (M), Rebecca Hicks (F) |
Premier Mixed
Parkville Panthers (57) def Valley Wolves (44)
Grand Final MVP: Mia van Wyk
League MVP: Will Whiteacre (M), Katie Fone (F) |
Division 1 Men’s
Western Firebolts Mens Purple (64) def Cityside Stingers (50)
Grand Final MVP: Lou Leo
League MVP: Manaaki Tai |
Premier Men’s
St Therese NC (43) def Cougars (38)
Grand Final MVP: Josh Byron
League MVP: Alastair Punshon |
“While the MLeague season was fantastic for a number of reasons, I'm so proud of the hard work put in by the Committee and officials to ensure the competition ran smoothly,” said Febbo.
“We are incredibly lucky to have dedicated officials like Craig [Moore] and Sue [Owens], as well as a growing pool of talented umpires.”
Opportunities for men and boys also continue to expand in Netball Victoria’s pathway competitions, with a dedicated Association Championships day and male divisions at State Titles and School Championships.
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