As a player, Domjahn joined the West Coast Men’s and Mixed Netball Association as an 18-year-old and also played in the Gold Industry Group WA Netball League. He then transitioned into a coaching role within the GIG WANL environment, originally with the Flames, the Southside Demons and now Comets.
Adding to his coaching resume, Domjahn has coached in the West Coast Fever Futures environment, Fever in Time, association and club level and for the School Sport WA Boys’ Program.
Being a coach and giving back to the next generation is important to Domjahn.
“As a younger kid, as boys we never had that pathway,” he said.
“Even when I was 18, we came in and we were all raw. We had to learn everything on our own.”
Domjahn is an assistant coach for the Comets Open team but is also heavily involved in the Boys’ Netball space as the School Sport WA coach for the Under 15 Boys’ Team.
For many young male athletes, the School Sport WA program is a key step in the pathway between association-level netball and the elite GIG WANL competition.
“I think we're starting to head towards what we've been aiming for, which is being more competitive against the likes of Victoria and Queensland that have the programs for those younger ones,” he said.
Domjahn’s team placed third at Nationals, just behind Victoria and Queensland.
“The experience is always amazing. I mean, I was looking at having some time off and I was convinced to go another year,” he said.
“We showed with that bronze medal and being able to push Victoria to only losing by six goals that we are capable of continuing to build in that environment.”
Domjahn is passionate about keeping boys involved in netball and believes early access to coaching is key to long-term success.
“We used to get picked up at social netball and they’d say come trial and now you can do 12s, 15s and this new Thunder League,” he said.
Avenues for boy’s to play netball now include association-based programs and competitions, clinics run by Netball WA, carnivals throughout the year and the Fuel to Go & Play Association Championships.
“I think that's a big difference. Being able to allow these kids to have that coaching experience from the start,” Domjahn said.
“It’s a big growth avenue for us to get the ball rolling at that age so that when we do get these boys into West Coast Thunder they’re going to be super competitive.
“Even having this new Peel team, I never thought we would get there but here we are, and the young boys get to see that.”
Peel Lightning have been awarded a license for a Men’s team in 2026, bringing the GIG WANL League to six teams.
When reflecting on the potential growth of boys’ netball, Domjahn said to just let the boys have a crack at it.
“Everyone sees it as a girl's sport. It's not anymore,” he said.
“Even if your boy just has one go at it, you never know what might happen.
“That's the biggest thing because the more boys we can get in, the better it's going to be as we go further.”
Gavin will be among the coaches at the final Netball WA and West Coast Thunder Thunderboltz clinic this Friday, October 3.
The clinics are tailored from the Fever in Time program to give boys an understanding of the pathway while learning the basics, for boys aged 10-16.
Buy tickets here.
