Victorian Football League club North Ballarat Roosters and Ballarat Basketball Club, which sports marquee teams Miners and Rush in the South East Australian Basketball League, were featured in a working party to build Ballarat Sovereigns’ bid.

And the submission is only the beginning.

North Ballarat chief executive officer Mark Patterson and Ballarat Basketball chief executive officer Peter Eddy say the success of winning a new Victorian Netball League licence was fantastic for the city’s entire sports community.

Each offers support from their own state level programs in measuring up – on and off the court – against powerful metropolitan rivals.

“We fully understand the career pathway for young athletes and the need for a marquee team in the sport,” Eddy said.

“It’s important to build on the good work done and grow for the future and offer good opportunities for players.

“Through our partnership with Wendouree Netball Association, and ourselves personally, we want to do everything possible to support this new club to make sure it is successful on and off the court.”

Patterson said the hard work for Ballarat Sovereigns, and the operational board of which the Roosters were a member, was just starting but exciting building blocks were set.

“It’s really good the VNL can see the space there needs to be in Ballarat and the wider region to give our netball athletes a pathway,” Patterson said.

The Sovereigns’ operational board will also feature representatives from AFL Goldfields, the City of Ballarat, Ballarat Pride and the Ballarat, Wendouree and Central Highlands netball associations.