By Tara Murray
There will be more than bragging rights on the line as the Hume City Broncos and Sunbury Jets do battle in the Big V championship from now on.
The two clubs announced that they would now play for the Milner-Sellwood Hume City Shield, which is focused on strengthening the Hume council area connection.
In a joint statement the clubs said the concept of introducing a perpetual challenge shield as a focus for their competitive encounters on the basketball court and to showcase the sport at the Big V elite championship level, was born out of the clubs’ desire to connect more deeply with the wider Hume community.
“By establishing a challenge series such as this we are hoping that the current supporter base for both clubs can broaden our collective reach to engage those sectors of our community yet to experience this great family sport,” Jets president Glenn Ogston said.
Broncos president Peter Jackson echoed those comments, adding “It’s great that Sunbury and Broadmeadows have collaborated to stage an annual sports event that serves to reinforce positive community values for Hume City through the examples of teamwork and development pathways.”
The shield has been named after individuals who have not only achieved accolades for their achievements in basketball but have also been long-standing residential members of Hume, who continue to work tirelessly in advocating for, and implementing, sports based inclusive community programs.
Milner is one of the Broncos greatest players having played in the club’s first under-18 Victorian Championship and captaining four Big V championships.
She also had a long WNBL career.
Milner is currently working as project manager for the association driving community engagement and youth leadership programs focused on the diverse, marginalised and under-represented areas of Dallas and Hume Central.
Sellwood played in more than 350 Big V games, the majority with the Jets.
Sellwood has been part of three championships – 1999, 2008 and 2009 – and was named his division’s most valuable player award in 2002 when he averaged 28 points a game.
He is currently the vice-president of the association, with the Jets saying his leadership extends beyond basketball, with strong contributions throughout the community, positively impacting both the association and the region.
The shield event format will feature points awarded for wins from Big V fixtured games between the Broncos and Jets men’s and women’s championship division teams in 2025.
The inaugural Milner-Sellwood Hume City Challenge Shield will kick off on Saturday, March 29, at Boardman Stadium as both clubs kick off their seasons.
The women will play at 6pm and the men will follow after at 8pm.
