State netballer Charlee Hodges follows family sporting tradition

STATE under-19 netballer Charlee Hodges’ family tree includes Port Adelaide Football Club royalty, a world-renowned tennis coach and a former Adelaide Thunderbird.

Charlee Hodges 17 of Henley Beach, with her father Scott Hodges (former AFL Football player) on the outside courts at Netball SA Stadium. Charlee Hodges - the daughter of Port Adelaide goalkicking great Scott Hodges and grand-daughter of John Cahill - has been named in SA's under-19 netball squad. Picture: Stephen Laffer

CHARLEE Hodges’ family tree includes Port Adelaide Football Club royalty, a world-renowned tennis coach and a former Adelaide Thunderbird.

The Contax netballer is the daughter of Magpies Magarey Medallist Scott Hodges, granddaughter of Port coaching great John Cahill, and the niece of Darren and Vicki Cahill.

Charlee, who will represent SA at the under-19 championships in Sydney in April, says she has never had to look far for support.

“They all give me little tips,” Charlee, 17, says.

“In the off-season, I’ll go to the gym with my pop and he’ll kind of base it around football but moderate a program to help me and push me.

“Uncle Darren tells me to keep on going, keep on going and don’t give up.

“As a family, our lifestyle has always been eating healthy and keeping fit.

“And we’re a pretty competitive family.

“Having them there to guide me and lead me away from the mistakes they made their careers ... has been a big extra.”

Charlee, who stands 179cm, is making her name as a goal attack in Contax’s senior squads.

It is perhaps unsurprising considering her dad is in the forward line of Port’s Team of the Century after booting 690 goals in 183 games and winning three Ken Farmer Medals.

“Being a goalie can be much different to other positions, having that pressure to execute your skill.

“Having dad’s perspective on the game brings a different outlook on how to handle that pressure.

“He first told me to take as long as I needed before I shoot but I said ‘dad, we’ve only got three seconds’.”

Charlee, of Henley Beach, began playing social netball in primary school before joining Contax when she was 11.

“Mum (Julie) always played (social) netball and whenever her team needed a fill-in, I’d fill in for them.”

Last year, Charlee was named in an Australian talent identification squad after the national under-17 championships.

Her long-term goal is to play for the Thunderbirds.

Scott Hodges says the family is proud of Charlee.

“From a young age she’s shown she’s got a lot of talent,” Hodges says.

“But she’s also very strong-minded and determined.

“When she wants something she’ll get it and she’s not afraid of hard work.”