Riddell teenager Mady Brown has found a way to combine her undoubted netball skills with football this season, and juggling the two sports is a challenge she is enjoying.
A home-grown Riddell product, Mady is a swift-moving mid-courter who often features among the Bombers’ A-grade netball best players.
So why tackle football? And which is the easier sport?
From a very young age she was in Riddell junior netball teams, progressing through the grades.
As a 16-year-old, she played in an A-grade netball grand final, and is keen to see the Bombers make another tilt for the premiership this season.
An impressive 70-43 victory over Romsey on Saturday keeps Riddell in second place on the ladder, a win and percentage behind unbeaten ladder-leader Woodend-Hesket.
In fact all five Riddell netball teams won against Romsey on Saturday as the sunshine came out.
When Riddell decided to form a senior women’s football team for this season, Mady learned some of her friends were going to play.
“I thought I’d give it a go as well, but it’s been a long learning curve,” she admits.
Mady’s natural speed and athleticism are undoubted assets in both codes. She’s also appreciative of encouragement and coaching on offer with the Bombers.
She enjoys both sports, particularly as Riddell has improved considerably in football as the season has progressed.
At the weekend the women’s football side defeated Romsey 9.10 to 0.1, and Mady thinks there are other young netballers who would be able to make the transition to football — if they were convinced they could succeed.
So far she has remained injury-free in both sports, and likes the team atmosphere.
A couple of months ago the 19-year-old took up a teaching aide position at St Ambrose Primary School in Woodend.
“I’m really enjoying working with the children and it’s not far to travel,” she said.
Mady said she was a strong believer in playing with her home town club (Riddell) rather than swapping around as had become a more recent trend in the Riddell League.
Come finals time, there’s a strong chance Mady will be on the netball court and the football ground as well for the Bombers.
