Natasha Hardy is the type of person everyone needs around a football club.
Her ability to get people involved in the club, while at the same time putting her heart and soul into the Sunbury Lions has seen her have a major impact on and off the field in her five years at the club.
Hardy’s input has not gone unnoticed, as she is the July Melbourne Football Club VWFL Player of the Year nominee.
Hardy has a growing list of accolades, being a two time VWFL best & fairest winner, club best & fairest, named best first year player at Sunbury in 2009, a Vic Country representative and was held in such high regard at the club she was named club captain after just two seasons. It just adds to her influence at the club.
“Her character on and off the field and her willingness to get her team across the line is just unbelievable,” Sunbury Lions team manager Ebony English said.
“Literally her entire weekend is dedicated to football. She trains Friday nights (at the club), she is the runner for the Youth Girls game from around 9am Saturday mornings, and then we play football on Sunday’s.
“She also picks up the 17 year olds when they are getting a game in the seniors, and drives them to the match and drops them at home.
“Just her dedication to make sure the club keeps ticking over is unbelievable.”
Her dedication to the club could not be highlighted any more than in the preseason, when eligible for a sponsorship to help pay her fees, Hardy instead nominated to have a small amount deducted across the entire teams fees instead of having her own paid for.
English said that is was this sort of commitment and selflessness by Hardy to the club that has been a major reason for her own involvement this year.
In a year where Sunbury has struggled for volunteers off the field, Hardy has played a vital role ensuring the weekly positions are filled, enlisting her brother in law to run the boundary for the club, and convincing English to take on the role as Sunbury’s team manager this season.
“In the preseason I was training with the side for a bit of fitness, and there was a club meeting after training. Natasha pulled me aside and asked could they nominate me as team manager, but don’t worry, we will find someone else to do it, but we just need to put down on paper that we have a team manager,” English said.
“I agreed and they have not found anyone else.”
This year Sunbury’s VWFL club has developed more of a relationship with the Sunbury Youth Girls side in the hope that when they graduate and can play senior football that they choose to come to the Sunbury Lions rather than heading to another football club.
Hardy has taken it upon herself to volunteer her time every Saturday to be runner for the Sunbury Youth Girls, and includes them in training sessions at least once a week. She works hard at developing the relationship with the Youth Girls to make their transition to the senior group a smooth one.
Just another reason she is the July nomination for the Melbourne FC VWFL Player of the Year award.
The VWFL Player of the Year award is run in conjunction with the Melbourne Football Club and it seeks to highlight the positive contributions made by women to enhance the women’s game. The nominated players work tirelessly on or off the field to promote women’s football and to build long lasting connections with their communities.
The overall winner will be announced at the VWFL end of year presentation evening.
Click the links below for the previous nominees:
June: Grace Campbell – Bendigo Thunder
May: Emily Nadj - Cranbourne
Last Modified on 06/08/2014 19:58