Even the most deeply entrenched in Ballarat netball circles would be hard pressed to name players in the club’s state league championship division team this season.

Sovereigns called on proven Victorian Netball League performers and rising stars to set the tone at the top. To build a winning culture.

Former Australian Diamond Joh Curran – Ballarat’s sole national league elite netball export – took up head coach post. Curran attracted proven VNL championship performers from her strong former club Monash, including former ANZ Championship goaler Janelle Lawson (Firebirds/Fever).

But there is only one player from Sovereigns’ representative region, western Victoria – Edenhope’s Laura McDonald, who boarded at Ballarat Clarendon College.

Sovereigns play in a Melbourne-centric competition late Wednesday nights with a predominantly Melbourne-made senior list and, largely due to a lack of appropriate court space in Ballarat, training is in western Melbourne suburb Keilor. Sovereigns have two home games in Ballarat. Both are in June.

While Sovereigns 19/unders is filled with the region’s best talent, the championship division team is essentially foreign.

Why support them?

Sovereigns chairman Bill Mundy came out on the airwaves this week to defend Sovereigns’ play. Mundy said on-court success would help build the brand. Athletes want to play for a winning team. This, in turn, would strengthen pathways and retention for the region’s players coming through the ranks. It would set benchmarks and experience higher to strive toward.

It is a method worth trying. Other championship division campaigns have struggled to pull off victories.

Four rounds in and Sovereigns’ top team remains winless – close matches but late fadeouts.

This is a new-look championship division team. Netball, in any level, demands sounds on-court combinations. Sovereigns are close to clicking.

We need a little more patience, even though Press Box made clear after Sovereign’s season launch this city’s patience is running low. We have been starved of state netball success so long.

Sovereigns need wins fast. The club has made a huge gamble. The immediate risk is growing indifference from general sporting fans.

A big part of the charm in having a state league netball team filled with Ballarat athletes was Saturdays, when the club’s top players lined up in footy-netball with big on-court profiles.

Mundy and the Sovereigns are aware player exposure is essential. Players make a presence in key netball events. The club will have a training space in town once Ballarat Sports and Events Centre is redeveloped. 

We need to give Sovereigns a chance.

For Ballarat athletes, state level netball played mid-week at night is physically and mentally demanding. You sign up for the challenge, a chance to try your game at the highest levels possible.

This plan aims to get our talent some reward, which in turns filters back to the grassroots game.

Watch this space to see if gamble pays off.