Community netball is back at Macleod in a big way after a three-year hiatus.
There’s a certain rhythm to community sport clubs that never really disappears. Even when teams fall away and seasons pass without a whistle, the foundations remain in the clubrooms, in the volunteers and in the quiet belief that one day, things will start up again.
At Macleod Football Netball Club, that moment has arrived.
After stepping away from senior netball following the 2023 winter season, the club has re-entered the Northern Football Netball League (NFNL) with a brand-new squad and a renewed sense of purpose. While the name remains familiar, this is a fresh start in every sense: a new group, a new culture and a long-term vision to rebuild the program from the ground up.
The return reflects a broader shift across community sport, where clubs are placing greater emphasis on inclusion and participation, particularly in women’s sport. At Macleod, netball is no longer an add-on but a key part of the club’s future, with early signs suggesting the appetite for its return has been strong.
What stands out most is how quickly the team has come together. In a matter of weeks, a full squad was assembled through little more than a social media post and word of mouth, attracting players from a wide range of backgrounds and experience levels.
At the centre of that rapid rebuild is Demi Maggio, who initially had far simpler ambitions.
“I just wanted to play again. I come from a netball background and have had a pretty big break from the game. Late last year, I just felt really keen to get back into it,” Maggio said.
“I tried to get my old team together, but we’re all in our 30s now, and a lot of them have had kids and life is busy, so it wasn’t that easy.”
Rather than joining an established club and going through the process of tryouts, Maggio looked for a more flexible way back into the sport that felt welcoming rather than intimidating. That search led her to Macleod.
“They were the only club in the NFNL without a netball team,” she says. “When I reached out to Macleod, they told me they were already talking about bringing netball back and just needed someone to help get it going.”
Everything really fell into place for Maggio, and what followed was a natural alignment: “They said, ‘If you’re keen, we’ll support you,’ and from there, it just took off.”
Since then, she has stepped into a coordinator role she hadn’t planned for, helping to organise the team and re-establish the netball program within the club.
“I didn’t expect to be doing this. I just wanted to play, but I’ve really loved being part of building something kind of from the ground up,” Maggio said.
The early returns have been promising. Seventeen players have joined the squad, many meeting for the first time only weeks ago, yet quickly forming a strong connection.
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“Most of us didn’t know each other before this. But it’s just clicked. It feels like we’ve been playing together for much longer,” Maggio said.
That chemistry was evident in the team’s first grading match, despite minimal preparation.
“We had no idea how we’d go. We’ve got players who’ve never played before and others coming out of retirement, so we just wanted to enjoy it,” Maggio added.
“We actually surprised ourselves. We were quick, we connected well and for a new team, it was really encouraging.”
Off the court, the response has been just as significant. Strong support from the broader club has helped fast-track the team’s sense of belonging.
“Our first game felt like a grand final crowd. There were so many people there and they were really loud. That kind of support makes a huge difference,” Maggio said cheerfully.
“Macleod has been so welcoming. People from the football side come up and introduce themselves, and you really feel like part of the club straight away.”
The approach to building the squad has also played a role. Rather than focusing on experience, the emphasis has been on inclusivity.
“We didn’t really know anything about anyone when they signed up. We just said, if you want to be here, you’re in,” Maggio explained.
That mindset has created a diverse playing group, from locals to interstate arrivals and students new to the area.
While results will come in time, the focus in this first season is on establishing a foundation. They’ll look to build connections, have fun and create a strong culture, and if Macleod “gets that right, everything else will follow”.
Looking ahead, the ambition is to grow the program beyond a single team and reintroduce junior pathways within the club.
“I’d love to build it into multiple teams and bring juniors back because that pathway is really important.”
For now, though, success is being measured in smaller ways; in confidence regained, friendships formed and a shared sense of purpose.
“In less than a month, it already feels like something bigger than just netball, and when you have that, everything else will come.”
Image via @macleodnetball on Instagram
