ONE of the Central Highlands Netball League’s best ever netballers will reach an astounding milestone on Saturday, when Bungaree’s Amanda Clarke plays her 400th game for the Demons.
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Clarke, a record six-time CHNL best and fairest winner, will reach the milestone at home against Rokewood-Corindhap, in what will cap off a brilliant career.
Now in her 25th year of A-grade netball, the 40-year-old coach said it was an honour to have been at the club for such an extended period.
“Sport has changed a lot over the time. A lot of the loyalty and home-town pride probably isn’t there any more, but I still think it’s very important,” Clarke said.
Born and bred in Bungaree, Clark made her A-grade debut at the age of 15 and has gone on to dominate the CHNL form that point onwards.
Her career includes a remarkable 19 Bungaree club best and fairests, six league best and fairests and she is also one of just three people to be awarded club life memberships, not to mention more premierships than she could recall.
“I’ve been extremely lucky over my career to play in a team that is able to compete in finals pretty much every year,” Clarke said.
“The league has changed so much in the last five or six years though and it is just getting harder and harder every year.
“It’s good for the league for standard but the social side might not quite be what it once was.”
Having spent most of her career in the centre-court, Clarke hinted it might be getting close to drawing the curtain on her magnificent career.
“I’m definitely nearing the end of A-grade, I think,” she said.
“Physically, I can still cope but it might be time to take a step back and focus on other things,” she said.
Bungaree will need to defeat Rokewood-Corindhap to hang on to its spot in the top eight.