Powerful netball role model notches up 250 games

Overwhelmingly, Courtney Young is a strong advocate and role model for the value and importance of football netball clubs to a community.

And it’s one of the main reasons why she stays involved, with the same amount of drive and willingness to pass on her experience and love of the game and the club to others.

“I think football-netball clubs are just so important to individuals and to the community, providing that support system, the opportunity to prepare and play sport together and to learn to live in a community, to contribute and to enjoy it.

“I just love the Wonthaggi Power Football Netball Club and the people around it and the opportunity to be involved and to support this excellent group of young girls we have coming through now was one of the main reasons I wanted to come back after having children.

“We thought we had the young group that could come through and play finals in A Grade, if they stuck together, and hopefully this is the year that we’ll be able to do that.”

Last Saturday, Courtney Young passed a significant milestone in the sport when she reached the 250-game mark and the tributes and congratulations have come thick and fast, not just from her clubmates on the day, but also from Power’s opponents on Saturday, Morwell, and also on social media in the days following.

On her netball:

* “She plays how everyone should. She’s fearless and courageous and she always puts her body on the line,” said Chloe Marshall.

* “I guess one thing sticks out to me is Court’s work rate to get the ball back after a missed shot or turnover. Unbelievable and something I try to instil into my juniors,” Fiona Cengia.

* “No matter where I throw it, even if it’s an off-pass, I know Courts will come out of nowhere and receive it,” Ellie Bates.

From the community:

* Carmel Birkett: The word ‘awesome’ is just a drop in the ocean when it comes to ‘Courts’. I have had the pleasure of watching and coaching you for many years. One of a kind when it comes to Power Netball and the many league representatives you put your hand up for, or been selected for. Team of the year several times, tournaments, championships etc. Love what you do.

* Nathan Cant: Congratulations Courts! Amazing achievement

* Brooke Scapin: What a superstar you are on and off the court. Congratulations. ‘Courts Young’ you are simply the best

* Bernadette O'Mahony: Congratulations Courts Young. A great achievement.

* Abby Tranter: Such a role model, Courts!

There could not be a better role model or contributor to the sport of netball locally and anyone who has played against, played with, or been coached by ‘Courts’ can recognise that.

“It was really nice for the Morwell girls to stop their preparations and come across and make a presentation to me as well.

“I think that says a lot about our sport and the friendships and respect that grows up. I’ve known quite a few of those girls through playing and representative teams. I think Courtney Garth is the only one who was playing but there are quite a few others in that group I know, so that was nice.”

In actual fact, Courtney Young has played many more than 250 games of netball, if you put in the junior games, representative and tournament games, somewhere closer to 400, or even more.

But getting to 250 A Grade games is quite an achievement.

Courtney has played most of those games in her customary Goal Attack role, arguably the toughest spot on a netball court, but she played a lot as GD in juniors and can happily swing into the key defence role as needed.

It’s where she believes Morwell has built its dominant position in the A Grade competition this year, with a very strong defence, posting a strong 45 to 27 victory on Saturday against the fifth-placed Power.

Courtney lists her individual highlights over her career to date as the 2009 premiership win against a very talented Dalyston team and two state-wide, representative wins as captain of the Gippsland team, both finals played as curtain-raisers to Melbourne Vixens’ games at Hisense Arena.

In one of those wins with Gippsland she was named MVP.

She’s been runner-up best and fairest in the Gippsland League twice and won 11 club best and fairests, but it’s the involvement across the whole club, including coaching and “giving back to the sport” that she values equally among her highlights.

Asked what she loves most about the sport and why she stays involved, Courtney said she loves the competitive nature of the sport, the need to drive your own fitness to reach the desired standard, the toughness of it as well, and then also the team aspect of it and how you have to rely on others to be your best.

“I love the club too, the opportunity to play sport, the social side as well and the opportunity to help others to get the best out of themselves.”

For the support she has received over the journey, Courtney thanked her parents, Neil and Judy, for the amount of travelling they have done over the years, she thanked her husband Phil for looking after the kids while she trains and plays, and her coaches and teammates.

“I’ve had a lot of really good coaches, both locally and at representative level, and you get something important from all of them.”

Courtney thoroughly enjoyed her day on Saturday, apart from the result of course, and now it’s on with the job of securing a place in the finals over the rounds that remain, against Bairnsdale and Moe, both winnable games for Power A Grade.