Tara Murray
Romsey goal shooter Hope Hamilton has dominated the shooting goal circle for 400 games.
Hamilton on Saturday will play game 400 having made her debut with the Sunbury Lions in 1997.
She played 150 games for the Lions before making the move to Romsey, where she has played another 250 in the Riddell District Netball League.
Hamilton said it had been nice to have the opportunity and look back at her career.
“It is a big thing,” she said. “It’s exciting and it’s a nice opportunity to sit back and think about all the years that I have played.
“I have achieved so much. When you’re won as many games as I have or won premierships and been as successful as I have, I can’t complain.”
Evans started her career with the Sunbury Lions when the club joined the Ballarat Football Netball League and needed to have netball teams.
Since then the only time she hasn’t played is when she had her three children and during Covid.
She won a premiership in her first year with the Lions and a league best and fairest in 2002.
Evans moved to Romsey in 2008 and it was through a mum’s group she got asked to come and play with Romsey.
She joined the club in 2010 and hasn’t looked back.
She has won three A-grade premierships with the Redbacks along with a B-grade premiership in 2019.
She has won four club best and fairests across A and B-grade.
Hamilton made the drop back to B-grade in 2018-19 as she was managing a few injuries.
Having strengthened her body she has stepped back into A-grade and is matching it with the best in the competition despite being twice the age of some of her opponents and teammates.
“I feel fit and strong and really happy to be playing A-grade,” she said.
“It is a challenge and it’s not as easy as it used to be. The experience though still counts for a lot.
“I’m old enough to be some of their mothers.”
Hamilton said the premierships were all pretty special, especially the B-grade premiership against Rupertswood in 2019 when they won in overtime.
She said she loved that her children were able to grow up at the club as well.
“The A-grade premierships are definitely a highlight,” she said. “I was the only mum in the first one and my kids were on the side lines being part of it.
“It’s a warm environment for them and they are part of it and it’s really provided a sense of community.
“It’s something I’m thankful for.”
Hamilton has played with many players in her 14 years and said for the most part they’ve had really competitive sides.
She said current Macedon coach and defender Katie Clarke as her toughest opponent, while also highlighting former Melton Centrals defender Mel Laird as another one.
As teammates she’s played with Maggie Lind, Uneeq Palav and Elle McDonald, who both have Suncorp Super Netball experience.
She said there were a couple of local girls that had been among her best teammates.
“Danni Davidson is back at the club now and so is Lauren Anglin,” Hamilton said. “They’re brilliant in their own right and have amazing skills.”
Hamilton said the club was in a good position at the moment with a lot of young talent coming through the club.
She said while she’s not coaching she’s loved having a mentoring role.
Among the young talent starting to come through are her own kids.
“Jewell has filled in for D-grade this season,” Hamilton said.
“I’m hoping to share the court with them. The little one is 13 so I’ll have to hold off retiring for a couple of years and hopefully play seniors together at one point.”
