Hazel Glen coach Narelle Draper has been awarded Vicsport’s Community Coach of the Year for 2025 and the Victorian Sports Awards.
On a glittering Wednesday night at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground, surrounded by some of the biggest names and stories in Victorian sport, Narelle Draper was expecting little more than a memorable evening celebrating community sport.
Instead, the president and coach of Hazel Glen Netball Club walked away with one of the state’s most prestigious honours: Community Coach of the Year at the Victorian Sport Awards.
For Draper, the moment was as surreal as it was emotional.
“I was so surprised. I went there thinking I was just going to be a spectator at an awesome event where I was so grateful to be nominated. But to hear my name announced was just like, wow. How did I do that?” she said.
The answer lies in the community she has spent years building from the ground up.
Draper was named Community Coach of the Year after helping transform Hazel Glen Netball Club into one of Melbourne’s fastest-growing grassroots sporting environments. What began as an ambitious idea between local families has become a thriving club featuring junior pathways at Nillumbik Force Netball Association and senior teams competing in the NFNL.
Yet ask Draper what the award means most to her, and she will not mention wins, ladders or premierships.
“You don’t do it for the recognition. But when you’re tired and packing away things and doing all the stuff in the background over and over again, it’s really nice to be recognised for the amount of hours you put into something you love,” she said.
That love for community sport has been the driving force behind Hazel Glen since its inception in 2018.
The club’s foundations were laid after a group of local parents came together with a shared vision for what a new sporting club could provide for the area. Initially, the idea was shelved, but when Hazel Glen College approached the group about establishing independently run community sport programs within its facilities, the opportunity became real.
Suddenly, there was a venue, an identity and a purpose.
“The starting point of our club was to give people a place to call home,” Draper explained. “A place where they could belong, share community and feel appreciated.”
That philosophy remains central to everything the club does.
Walk into a Hazel Glen training session or Friday night NFNL fixture and the sense of connection is immediate. Young players arrive with friends, parents gather courtside and senior athletes mentor the next generation. For many families, the club has become more than just somewhere to play netball; it is a support network.
“The community side is literally doing life alongside each other. Having people who’ve got your back, who check in when you’re having a bad day and celebrate your wins with you, that’s what makes community sport special.”
Draper’s coaching style reflects that same people-first approach. While success on the court matters, confidence and personal development have always been her biggest priorities.
“A lot of players came to us feeling like they hadn’t been given the skills or knowledge to improve,” she said.
“Being able to help them believe in themselves and understand that they can do well at whatever level they’re at has been a huge focus.”
Her players often speak about learning far more than netball under her guidance. Draper places heavy emphasis on fundamentals, teamwork and understanding every aspect of the game.
She encourages athletes to listen, absorb information and appreciate the roles of teammates across the court, believing those lessons help build stronger players and stronger people.
“I’ve always been a sponge as a player myself. Listening to every player’s feedback after games helps you understand the game better and see things in a different light,” she said.
That mentality has helped create a club culture where players continue returning long after their junior years end.
Above: Vicsport Community Coach of the Year Narelle Draper with Sharelle McMahon, who was awarded the Outstanding Contribution to Victorian Sport Award.
One of Hazel Glen’s proudest achievements has been establishing a pathway into senior netball through the NFNL. Rather than losing players after juniors, the club now provides a familiar and welcoming environment for young athletes transitioning into adult competition.
“When juniors finish, it can feel like you’re thrown into a scary new environment where everyone already knows each other,” Draper said.
“Having our open program means those girls can still feel like they’re in their safe space. It’s still their community, it just extends into adulthood.”
The impact of that environment can be seen in the generations of players now coming through the club. Former juniors have returned as senior athletes, assistant coaches and mentors, helping shape younger players exactly as they once supported themselves.
For Draper, watching those cycles continue is one of the most rewarding aspects of coaching.
“It’s really nice seeing players grow into leaders within the environment. They’re modelling the same things that were modelled to them, and then they’re leading the next generation,” she said.
Inclusivity has also become a major focus as participation in netball continues to rise across Victoria. Draper is passionate about ensuring Hazel Glen reflects the diversity of the community around it.
“We have a really big demographic across our area, and it’s important people can walk through our doors and feel welcome,” she said.
“We want to create a safe space for everyone and make sure we’re aware of different cultures, backgrounds and experiences.”
Despite the prestigious award now attached to her name, and being one of two award winners in netball alongside great Sharelle McMahon, Draper remains focused firmly on the future: The next training session, the next player needing confidence and the next young coach learning the ropes.
Her advice to aspiring coaches is simple: Learn from others, stay open-minded and never be afraid to ask for help.
“Take your own playing and coaching experiences and model those positive things for the next generation,” she said.
At the Victorian Sport Awards, Draper may have been recognised as Community Coach of the Year. But at Hazel Glen, she has become something even more valuable, the heartbeat of a club that continues to grow through connection, care and community.
