By Marcus Uhe
Cranbourne Netball Club is the latest to join the burgeoning South East Premier Netball League in what is set to be a massive boost for the community.
The Eagles join Beaconsfield, Berwick, Berwick Springs and Hampton Park as the league’s establishment clubs, aiming to take to the court next year with a full compliment of both junior (U13, U15 and U17) and senior (Ladies A B C D and Mens open) teams.
Incoming netball club president Keira Willis said she is excited for the club to return to a same day football-netball model, having experienced it with other clubs in the region.
“It’s an amazing experience where you get to travel and play different teams,” Willis said.
“A lot of people have put their hands up and expressed interest in coming over.
“At some competitions they don’t have juniors, and I think this one was good because the seniors could actually help the juniors develop and support them as a club, and see where they’re at.
“As a community I think it’s very good.”
From fully-fledged members of the previous Casey-Cardinia Football Netball League and South East Football Netball League, Cranbourne Football Netball Club’s move to the Southern Football Netball League was detrimental to the netball cohort.
Netball in the SFNL is largely played at a centralised location at courts in Dingley on Saturday afternoon, meaning the clubs could not combine to support one-another at the same venue on game days.
The Eagles fielded a single senior netball side in the SFNL’s Open B1 competition in 2023.
