The MOU outlines a clear focus on working together on shared goals and building pathways for male athletes through strong collaboration across the Netball WA community.
WCMMNA is a Netball Association dedicated to developing opportunities for the men’s and mixed netball pathways which play a strong role in developing the States top male players.
Netball WA’s 2023-2025 Strategic Plan calls out a 10 per cent increase in registered boys and men playing netball year on year, a KPI they achieved in 2024 with the growing demand from male players.
Netball WA General Manager of Community Beth Harvey said the MOU is a way to formalise the connection between both organisations and ensure longevity of the men’s and boys’ initiatives undertaken by WCMMNA and NWA.
“We would like to see this growth continue and provide a clear pathway for boys and young men who aspire to play high-level netball,” Ms Harvey said.
WCMMNA President and retired Australian Kelpie Jerome Gillbard is a well-renowned representative of the talent Western Australia fosters within men’s netball.
Gillbard said it was hard for him to give up the sport he loved at 12-years-old when the competition ends for young boys, and he’s excited that future generations will not have to.
“For a long time, we have had an idea of what we wanted the boys’ and mixed space to look like, but we don’t have that expertise,” he said.
“Netball WA are very good at delivering a netball pathway from NetSetGo all the way to the Origin Australian Diamonds and they have been doing it for a long time, so we’re really excited to work together.”
WCMMNA Vice President Brooking Hovell said collaboration is key to building a pathway.
“In collaborating with Netball WA, we are able to be strategic around how we create opportunities for boys and men.”
As the space continues to grow for men and boys in netball, both organisations hope to foster WA talent and provide them with avenues to represent the State to their best ability.
“Male players around my age didn’t have anyone to look up to growing up,” Gillbard said.
“Now I think kids have the athletes in Men’s GIG WANL or the Australian Kelpies, and if they see that pathway, they’ll go for it.”
