Men and netball aren’t typically synonymous, and it’s a well-known sport that women dominate, but that is slowly set to change.

The ACT Men’s and Mixed Netball teams are heading to Adelaide for the Australian Men’s and Mixed Netball Championships, looking to intercept the gold trophy for the Territory.

Captain of the ACT Men’s Netball team, the Griffins, Sean Gray, is the star GA [goal attack] player and unofficial team cheerleader, and is ready to lead his men to victory.

“I grew up playing netball, which is unusual. I’m the only male in a family of female netballers, so I started netball at the age of seven and played in the female competition until I was about 12,” Sean said.

“After you turn 12 you can’t play females anymore, so then there was no real pathway for me to continue playing for a while. I’m from Nowra, so the closest men’s competition was in Sydney, and I eventually went to play for the u17’s state team.

“The story goes that I cried when mum tried to take me to soccer, so netball it was.”

Sean said the team’s preparation for nationals began three months ago, with two to three fitness sessions per week and a court session on the weekend.

“Heading to nationals is really exciting and we have an exciting team here with us at the moment. It’s been two or three years in the making because of COVID-19, so we are just so excited to get to nationals,” he said.

“I think we’re going to have a really good chance this year. We’ve got a solid team and had a really strong pre-season, so I think we’ll be pushing for a top spot… hopefully.”

Growing up on the court, Sean has witnessed the changes in representation of men in the female-dominated sport, and he commented on the growth of participation.

“I think the growth of men’s participation in netball over the past few years has been a big push in the ACT. For the last couple of years now, they’ve aligned the Men’s State League with the Women’s State League and it’s really put men’s netball at the forefront,” he said.

“So everyone’s been able to watch it because it’s on the same night as our girls, who are really, really good, so people are sticking around to watch. I think it’s really encouraged a lot of boys to join our sport, which is incredible.

“I think the stigma is slowly going. You’re seeing more and more of it, like the Suncorp Super Netball teams play against the men’s national team in preparation for their league. So, I think the stigma is starting to be removed which is really, really good for men’s netball.”

Simon Clulow, GD [goal defence] and GK [goal keeper] player, said the talent emerging in the men’s netball league is “incredible”.

“The new talent coming through the program, along with really experienced players, will give us a really good shot, and personally I think we can make the gold medal match this year,” Simon said.

“I started just playing mixed netball and just realised what an incredible, fast-paced, exciting sport it is. There’s no greater team sport than netball because unlike most other sports, you can’t have one superstar take the ball from one end to the other.

“Once I discovered the world of men’s netball, I never looked back.”

Mixed team player, Tamara Weatherburn, said it’s been great being involved with ACT mixed netball, and it’s a “really nice space”.

“This mixed environment where we can play alongside the men and really see the growth of their game develop, and the spotlight be on men in netball, which has typically been a female-dominated sport, is nice,” Tamara said.

To any man or boy who has been wanting to try pivoting around a netball court, Sean’s best advice is to come down and check them out.

“A lot of men play social netball, it’s a highly participated sport by men, so coming to check out the state league games really helps you to understand the physicality and athleticism of the sport,” Sean said.

“And any Canberran down in Adelaide, come buy tickets and cheer us on.”

The 2022 Australian Men’s and Mixed Netball Nationals will be hosted in Adelaide from 16 to 23 April and will be livestreamed. All details on the @actmensnetball Instagram page.

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