Harrison Hand had never played netball until 2022. Fast forward to 2024 and he’s represented Victoria at the Australian Men’s and Mixed Netball Association’s (AMMNA) National Championships, and he now dreams of playing for Australia.
The 15-year-old started netball as a way of killing time while watching his sister Isabella play for Lyndhurst Football Netball Club.
Harrison and his friends played Aussie rules for the same club, so they decided to enter a mixed netball team.
“We weren't playing footy on those days, so we decided, let's go give it a shot,” said Harrison.
“As soon as I stepped on court, it just felt natural and just so fun. I just got hooked and couldn't stop.”
Harrison’s mother Sheil was surprised how quickly her son – who had been playing Aussie rules since he was seven – took to netball.
“We're not a netball family at all, but my daughter’s just netball mad, and then she got Harri netball mad!” she said.
“We thought it was a one season thing, and it's not a one season thing.”
By the end of 2023, Harrison had hung up his football boots to focus solely on netball. He looks for court time everywhere he can find it, from his local mixed competition at Casey Netball Association, to representative sides.
Some of his netball highlights have been playing at Netball Victoria’s Association Championships and State Titles.
He represented Casey NA at the 2023 Association Championships as a 13-year-old in the 17&U male division, and played for Two Bays in the 2023 State Titles.
Netball Victoria held its inaugural male-specific Association Championships event in 2024, allowing Harrison to compete against boys his own age at this level for the first time.
He was a key member of Casey NA’s 15&U team who walked away from the event as premiers.
“It was such an achievement. We just worked so hard to get there and it was just really rewarding for the boys,” he said.
Harrison was also a member of Casey NA’s inaugural Junior MLeague team playing at the State Netball Centre.
The goaler was again integral to the 14&U team, who dropped only one game throughout the season, and went on to win the premiership.
“It was definitely a lot more competitive. Obviously everyone was wanting to win and wanting to do their best so they could come home with a win and it was a lot of fun,” Harrison said.
Harrison impressed the competition with his creative movement and agility across both shooting positions, which won him the division’s league MVP.
Sheil affectionately describes her son as an “annoying player.”
“He rattles people because he moves a lot,” she said.
Harrison’s biggest netball achievement to date has been playing for the VMMNA’s 17&Under Boys state team at the 2024 AMMNA National Championships.
“It was something I'd worked hard for, and I was so happy to just be a part of it, especially since I was still a little bit new to netball,” he said.
The then 14-year-old was one of the youngest on the team, but he still earned significant court time throughout the week-long event.
“I got to play in this older age group, and it was really inspiring for me,” he said. “The competitors were all super nice off court and competitive on court.”
The competition also afforded a front row seat to the grand final where his teammates got across the line in extra time to win by one goal.
“It was nerve wracking from the bench to watch. Emotions were going through the ceiling,” recalled Harrison.
“We just stayed composed, stayed disciplined, and came out with a win, which was just so exciting.”
On top of his netball playing commitments, Harrison coaches an Under 11s team at Cora Lynn Netball Club who compete in the West Gippsland Football Netball League.
It’s a volunteer role, but Harrison said, “helping boys and girls who are passionate about the sport is all the reward I need.”
Recognising his valuable contributions to the sport, Casey NA recently awarded Harrison the Elaine Milnes Junior Volunteer Award at their Community Awards.
Between Harrison and his sister, the Hand family are now at netball up to six days a week.
“It's a lot of driving but I'm actually really shocked at how much he's been able to experience over the last two years. It's just been phenomenal,” said Sheil.
Sheil has been blown away by the opportunities and encouragement given to her son.
Harrison concurred, “We just have so much support from the people running it and the coaches who all get behind us and really want us to succeed. They put a lot of time and effort into us.”
Harrison’s friends have also been nothing but supportive, even when his dedication to netball meant stepping away from their football team. In fact, four of his footy mates have since followed him into the netball team.
“It's been amazing, because the ones who don't play on your team, they come and they'll watch him at matches in the city and stuff like that,” said Sheil. “So they’re really supportive. It’s been brilliant.”
Harrison tells other boys considering netball to simply give it a go. “I'd say get on court – give it a try. Have fun, don't stop. Just keep going. Don't stop learning.”
He loves the discipline the game requires, but also the community who all share the same passion for the sport.
“I love the athleticism it takes to play the game and the thrill of it. It's really amazing,” he said.
“The support from all my mentors, coaches, role models, and all the friendships I've made along the way just made it that extra bit better.”
Sheil has seen these relationships flourish firsthand when attending Nationals with her son.
“It’s amazing… All the boys have just become so close. Even all the other states – they are just so encouraging of one another off the court,” she said.
“They remember each other and they keep in touch and it's just beautiful.”
Harrison’s goal is to represent Victoria at Nationals again in 2025 and continue advancing through the men’s netball pathway.
“I’m hoping I can take this netball journey as far as I possibly can and hopefully play for Australia one day.”
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