In a pivot of gender norms, men’s netball is growing in popularity and local Canberran Lachlan Paolo is helping lead the charge on the international court.
The 20-year-old is set to jet off to New Zealand in October, proudly representing Canberra in the Australian U20s team after his netball skills were spotted during the national grand final in April this year.
“At the presentation, they announced all the Australian teams and at first I didn’t hear my name, so everyone was clapping and I kind of just looked around and went ‘oh, that’s me’,” smiles Lachlan, with obvious modesty.
Growing up in Canberra, Lachlan spent many nights at the netball courts watching his mum play, and caught the bug very early on.
An ACT Griffins GA (Goal Attack) and WA (Wing Attack), he says being a male in the netball scene isn’t weird for him but he does accept he’s a notable minority.
“I think they [men] should definitely get into it, because I know a lot of people that have come from basketball, rugby, soccer, all that, coming to play netball. So, I think it’s a very quickly growing sport, men’s netball,” says Lachlan.
“If men’s netball is in the Olympics, I think that would be my end goal. So, hopefully, I just keep striving at it, then see where it ends up.”
When asked if he believes netball being considered a ‘girl’s sport’ is a significant barrier for men wanting to play the sport, his response was filled with innate optimism.
“I think it was but not anymore because obviously social media is a big platform these days, and there’s a lot of men’s netball getting out there on those profiles. And recently, the opens men’s team has been in contact with the Diamonds and they’re training together,” says Lachlan.
“They’re going to play the Constellation Cup together, so it’s a very big step in men’s netball. It’s never happened before, and I think younger guys will be looking up to that as well.
“I know there’s a lot of young guys that want to play and they can’t because at the age of 12 originally you can’t keep going with the women. But I know they’ll be a lot of young boys that will be watching that game and will want to get into it, so it will be very good.
Travelling to Sydney every second weekend to train with his team has been hard but worthwhile and his teammates and coaches are “just unbelievable”, says Lachlan.
His previous coach Tamara Weatherburn says the growth she’s seen in him as a young man has been “amazing”.
“He’s just such a positive role model for young boys here in Canberra, gets around our junior programs, and just is an incredibly inclusive and kind human. So, we are very proud of him,” she says.
“Canberra should be absolutely proud he’s representing us. We’re small but might here and I think to go to New Zealand and get to represent the ACT Griffins, which is our men’s and mixed side, is just so cool.”
The Australian Men’s Netball teams will be taking on their New Zealand counterparts in an international test match beginning on October 12 in Auckland, NZ.
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