The 37-year-old goaler, who returned to Ballarat Pride’s championship side in 2014 after a long hiatus away while raising a family, told The Courier she was thrilled at Friday’s news that a club from the city – under a new name and model – would remain part of the state’s top competition.

“It is fantastic news in my opinion. It gives so many of our young netballers an opportunity to showcase their skills, something to strive for,” Daniel said.

“I know even without on-court success, there are so many younger girls that say to me, ‘I want to play for Pride just like you’.”

Daniel, a Pride premiership player in the old state league competition, said while she didn’t see the proposal put forward to Netball Victoria, she believed that Ballarat had an extremely good case to remain in the VNL.

“I heard about what was in it (the license proposal) and I thought it would be hard to knock it back. We can offer so much to the VNL. We have a lot to offer the competition,” she said.

Daniel said the new, all-encompassing structure of the Sovereigns would hopefully lead to some on-court success, which the Ballarat championship team has been starved of since joining the VNL in 2009.

“I don’t think that’s unreasonable, that’s what you play for,” she said.

Daniel has all but ruled out a return to the court next season – citing the high level of commitment needed at VNL level – but said she would keep supporting the club as its begins an exciting new chapter.