Sport
25 March, 2026
Senior struggle: association rejects A Grade hiatus year
Club president Georgia Taylor said St Arnaud netball was in “a bad position”.
ST ARNAUD netball has been forced to apply to the North Central League for permission not to field an A Grade team this year.
But the request was denied, leaving the Saints with the unpalatable prospect of not taking part in C Grade netball in 2026.
The crisis has been caused by a dramatic drop off in player numbers.
Club president Georgia Taylor said St Arnaud netball was in “a bad position”.
The club has only 12 senior players on its books for this season, with a further five under-age players prepared to step up. “Unless a miracle happens, we won’t be fielding three senior sides this season” Taylor said. “Which is devastating.”
The senior teams suffered five ACL injuries last year, several players have left after having had babies or falling pregnant, and others are focusing on university or high school studies.
“Our Under 17s only have 12 players as well, but the Under 14s are flying,” Taylor said. “We are really junior strong.”
She said that augured well for the future, with the club determined to build and develop young players so they were ready for a senior role in the future.
However, Taylor said it was time to begin to prioritise senior netball at St Arnaud.
“How are we going to improve the situation, and what can we do to attract and retain players?”
St Arnaud did not win a game last season, and in the past four years has recorded only three wins and a draw in A Grade.
“Those poor girls who take to the court every week,” Taylor said. “It’s hard to recruit to a losing side.”
The Saints have only appointed an A Grade coach in the past week, having gone without for a full pre-season.
Chris Amos is a local netball coach who has experience mainly at the junior level, will take the reins.
Netball association president Kim Fitzpatrick said it was a tough decision to reject St Arnaud’s request.
She said it was important for the league and for the Saints as a club to field an A Grade side.
Fitzpatrick said the association looked at St Arnaud’s record in recent seasons and felt that the A Grade team had been competitive for long periods in most games.
The club had strength in junior ranks, she said, and it was important that young players were able to aspire to playing A Grade netball without having to move clubs.
Fitzpatrick said C Grade was generally a more social form of netball, and if a senior grade had to be sacrificed, it was better that lower level than A Grade.
St Arnaud meets Charlton in the season opening round at Charlton Park on April 11 following up on home court in round two against Donald.
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