Superstar netballer Stacey O’Brien made history last weekend, when she became the first player to play 200 A-grade netball games for Traralgon Football Netball Club.
In doing so, she qualified for life membership of the club – the first netball player to do so for games played.
O’Brien joined the Maroons from Churchill in 2004 and quickly proved herself a star on the rise as part of the 17-and-under team.
The following year, aged 17, she played her first season of A-grade netball and won the Joe Hutchison Medal as the league’s best-and-fairest player.
O’Brien went on to win the award again in 2008, before being part of Traralgon’s premiership team in 2009.
After spending season 2013 at Woodside, O’Brien returned to Traralgon in 2014 and won a third Joe Hutchison Medal, before co-captaining the Maroons to last year’s A-grade premiership.
Throw in nine club best-and-fairest awards, numerous league Team of the Year selections and countless league representative team appearances and O’Brien’s is surely one of the most decorated careers in Gippsland netball history.
Despite her incredible list of achievements, O’Brien has somehow mostly avoided the limelight and Traralgon A-grade coach Kate French said humility was one of her best qualities.
“Not only is Stacey a hard-working and respected captain, she is also a highly respected opponent,” French said.
“Great players are not always great leaders but Stacey is one of those players who always goes above and beyond and sets the example for her teammates.
“Her speed and agility make her almost impossible to stop and her attacking skills in pressure situations sets her apart as one of the best mid-courters in Gippsland.”
The Maroons celebrated the occasion with a 43-40 win against Morwell.
Last Modified on 01/09/2016 10:32
