Netball Australia is hoping to uncover untapped talent at its inaugural First Nations Tournament in Melbourne next month.
More than 80 Indigenous players from all state and territories will compete in the event from September 13 to 15.
Netball Australia’s First Nations Engagement Lead, Ali-Tucker Munro, says it is an important step forward for netball.
“The sport recognises they’ve got a lot of work to do in the First Nations space,” she said.
“This is a really great example where there are people with open hearts and open minds who are willing to try different levers to make sure that we do create a culturally safe and inclusive sport.
“For me it’s a very exciting first step in this space of piloting this tournament and an opportunity to see if the community has a real appetite for this and want to see it happen moving forward.”
Photo courtesy of Netball Australia
The organisers have put an age limit on the tournament – all players must be under 23.
“There are a lot of challenges in terms of making sure that kids have opportunities once they finish year 12 or they might have finished doing some under-age representative and then sit in this stagnant pool and don’t get many opportunities come their way,” Ms Munro said.
“This is a vehicle by which we can provide an additional opportunity and a very culturally designed tournament to show themselves on court and how talented they are.
“The Diamonds are the top team in the world, and we want to make sure we identify some of these diamonds in the rough that we know exist across Australia but particularly in our communities.
“I think the tournament is a really great way in which those players who walked away from netball to get an opportunity to come back into the sport and have that opportunity to play alongside their mob is really exciting “
It could help provide a pathway for aspiring Diamonds to join Indigenous players Marcia Ella-Duncan, Sharon Finnan-White and Donnell Wallam on the team’s honour roll.
The tournament will also include Indigenous referees, coaches and officials.
