Richmond’s centre for Indigenous youth, the Korin Gamadji Institute (KGI), teamed up with Netball Victoria to hold a three-day development program for Indigenous netballers.
Melbourne Vixens co-vice captain Kate Moloney put the 12 KGI participants through their paces in a training session at Melbourne High School last Thursday morning.
As part of the program, the 14 to 18-year-olds also completed fitness testing, a recovery session, as well as storytelling and traditional dance.
Emma Weymouth, 17, is no stranger to KGI programs and travelled from Maryborough to further her development.
“I’ve done every single netball program since it began,” Weymouth said.
“I really enjoy it and I enjoy playing netball with these girls.
“It’s good, to get along with other Indigenous girls and really connect with them.”
The participants will represent the KGI and Netball Victoria in the annual Victorian Junior Indigenous Football and Netball carnival, to be held in September.
Mid-courter Moloney, a keen Tiger fan, took the participants through a number of drills before they went head-to-head in a match.
“I love getting out and meeting new kids and seeing their skills and trying to build on them,” Moloney said.
“They’ve got some awesome talent out there so it was good to see that.
“I definitely was impressed with the skills and the foot work was super quick and the ball skills were really good too.”
Moloney proudly declared her allegiance to Richmond, despite coming from a family of mad Collingwood supporters.
Nowadays the demanding ANZ Championship season limits the attacking ace’s ability to get to games but she remains a passionate supporter.
“I don’t know how I ended up a Tiges supporter but my next door neighbours, they were all Richmond, so they used to take me every week,” Moloney said.
