Off the court this week MFNC were very excited to welcome Madi Browne to the Nest. Madi was our guest speaker at Presidents Lunch and then spectator for our A grade team! 

Madi began her elite netball career in 2006, playing with the Melbourne Kestrels. She was signed to the Vixens in 2008, before transferring to the West Coast Fever for the 2009 ANZ Championship season. She re-joined the Vixens in 2011 where she played a further 6 seasons, after which she signed for the Collingwood Magpies in their inaugural year, being named Captain of a team full of netball’s elite.

Madi is one of the most highly decorated players in Australian Netball, being labelled the ‘finest midcourter’ in Australian netball history by Rob Wright, one of her coaches at the Magpies. Domestically, she was awarded the Best New Talent and Rookie of the Year in 2006, was ANZ Championship Player of the Year in 2012, ANZ Championship All Star Wing Attack in 2013 and 2014, has won multiple club MVPS (West Coast Fever in 2009 and 2010, Vixens in 2013 and 2014), was a premiership player in 2014 with the Vixens, and the ANZ Championship MVP in 2016. 

But her feats don’t stop there. On the international stage, but prior to making her Diamonds debut, Madi was the Australian u/21 Player of the Year in 2008 and competed in the u/21 World Championships in 2009. She was then part of the Diamonds squad from 2010-2018 and received many accolades during this time. She won 4 Constellation Cup titles (2011, 2013, 2014, 2016), is a Commonwealth Games Gold Medallist (2014) and Silver Medallist (2018), was Australian International Player of the Year in 2012 and 2014 and is a two-time Liz Ellis Medallist (2012 and 2014), the first player to achieve this. Madi also captained the Diamonds in 2017, only 12 months after returning to netball after rupturing her ACL in 2015. She retired from international netball in 2018 with 61 caps to her name. She then retired from Australian domestic netball in 2020. Although not blessed with great height like we are so used to seeing in our sporting elite, Madi’s speed, skills and game smarts were unrivalled, making her every Wing Defence’s worst nightmare at any level.

Madi is now establishing herself as a commentator and remains in the elite netball competition in this way. 

The Monbulk FNC community were grateful for the opportunity for an open and honest Q & A session with Madi. 

FOOTBALL
Seniors
Monbulk and Pakenham met at Monbulk for their Round 7 encounter in cool and overcast conditions. Both sides were just outside of the Top 5 and a win would be vital for either team before the King’s Birthday bye weekend.

Although conditions were calm and favoured neither end, most of the scoring was done at the Moores Road goals. The Hawks had the best of the opening term but only came away with 2.5 to 2 behinds for their efforts. Pakenham responded with a six goal to three second term which had the Lions edge in front by 5 points at the long break. Monbulk regrouped at half time and attacked with aggression for most of the third quarter to again move out to a comfortable 16 point lead and were looking good to claim the four points. In the last quarter the Lions linked up brilliantly and were able to consistently breach the Hawks’ defences to snare a remarkable 9 goals and run away with the game by 36 points by the final siren. The Monbulk players played determined football, displaying pride in their jumper, but lost possession on too many occasions in the final stanza, which wasn’t helped by an ankle injury to Dylan Werts. Senior debutant Nick Taylor, coming up from the Under 19s, showed distinct promise.

Monbulk 9.14.68 def by Pakenham 15.14.104
Best: Nick Taylor, Johnathon Hevern, Mackay Bateson, Lachlan Sheppard, Glenn Strachan, Lochlan Beecroft
Goals: Ziggy Hatherley 3, Mackay Bateson 1, Lochlan Beecroft 1, Josh Wentworth 1, Glenn Strachan, Lewis Oliver 1, William Mutschler 1

Reserves
Monbulk had a chance to consolidate their spot in the Top 5 and found themselves evenly matched with the Pakenham side that presented itself on the day. This game was to prove a tight encounter as neither side was able to get a break over their opponents and the margins at the end of each quarter was never more than a goal. The Hawks missed some opportunities early on and later the Lions did likewise. A Pakenham goal one minute before the siren eventually regained the lead for them and was enough to claim the win. For the second week running Monbulk have lost by less than a goal. 42 different players have already represented the Reserves this year, with Benjamin Magnay and Joel Roberts becoming the latest club recruits and they finished with 5 of the 7 goals obtained.

Monbulk 7.9.51 def by Pakenham 8.7.55
Best: Hamish Emmett, Toby Versteegen, Jesse Dodd, Jayden Mauchline, Ryan Pentreath, Benjamin Magnet
Goals: Benjamin Magnay 3, Joel Roberts 2, Nick Selleck 1, Brandon Shambrooke 1

Under 19s
The Under 19s faced Emerald in a return match in the morning, having beaten them at Berwick Springs in Round 3. With the ground still slippery from overnight drizzle, it was the Bombers who settled first and had three goals on the board within ten minutes. It was ultimately to be this early onslaught which proved the difference between the two teams and Emerald also eventually scored the last two majors to run out 25 point winners.

Monbulk 3.11.29 def by Emerald 7.12.54
Best: Noah Rutherford, Charlie Barge, Tait Colee, Jai Farmer, Graison Embleton, Ash Bremner
Goals: Thijs Koelewyn 1, Lachlan Smith 1, Nick Heron 1

Womens
Monbulk are finally starting to get more players back than they are losing and were able to have the luxury of having five players on the bench, including the return of 2019 League leading goalkicker, ‘Kit’ Gow, from a back injury. Although Pakenham still had a comfortable win over the Hawks, Monbulk were able to celebrate not just their first goal for the season, but also kicked a second one for good measure. Just about every player on the ground swarmed over the successful kickers.

Monbulk 2.0.12 def by Pakenham 10.21.81
Best: Briannan Lambe, Genna Seamer, Laura Gillard, Josie Ford, Kathryn Gow, Maddison Dodd
Goals: Kathryn Gow 1, Briannan Lambe 1

NETBALL
A Grade
In A Grade the top five teams have established a three game break over the bottom five. Monbulk and Pakenham currently find themselves in the latter category and a close game was anticipated. The Lions had other plans and consistent defensive pressure cost the Hawks possession in the opening term, and a five goal deficit on the scoreboard. The match tightened up over the next two terms, as the lights had to be turned on in the gloomy conditions, and there were just a few goals separating the sides at three quarter time. Pakenham then broke the shackles in the last quarter to score 16-7 and ran out convincing winners.

Monbulk 38 def by Pakenham 50
Best: Paige Whitworth, Sophie Stubbs, Peri Reid
Goals: Peri Reid 35, Jen Dewhurst 3

B Grade
Monbulk’s B Grade team started the day in 5th place and faced a Pakenham outfit that was just half a game behind. The Hawks started well and had the game on their terms in the first half, holding a four goal break after the second term. The Lions then produced a match winning 18-6 third term to seize control of the match, and then maintained their lead to the final bell. The loss sees the Hawks slip to seventh.

Monbulk 38 def by Pakenham 46
Best: Siobhan Munday, Dayna Walsham, Alice McCormick
Goals: Paige Rondinella 26, Dayna Walsham 12

C Grade
There was little separating Monbulk and Pakenham on the ladder going into this match and the game itself was just as tight. The Hawks grabbed an early lead by a couple of goals before the game was all tied up by half time. It continued to be a gripping encounter through the second half, going goal for goal, however Pakenham edged ahead and were then able to maintain their slender lead to notch a two goal win.

Monbulk 28 def by Pakenham 30
Best: Jamie Sands, Courtney Witt, Tasha Selby
Goals: Jamie Sands 24, Laura Del Biondo 4

D Grade
The overnight drizzle left the D Grade team opening proceedings on a slippery court surface in the morning. Pakenham had height and experience on their side but the tenacious young Hawks never gave up, even when scoring was limited, with their three smallest players leading the way.

Monbulk 10 def by Pakenham 36
Best: Kate Smith, Brooke O’Loughlin, Hannah Dickason
Goals: Kate Smith 5, Eireann Lawson 3, Natalie Rankin 2

Next week we hope everyone enjoys the long weekend & we will see you the following week!