From Kardinia Park to gold medals: Madi Browne’s classic Geelong netball beginnings

Madi Browne is well known for her international netball success, but her career began like many others with a first game on court one at Kardinia Park.

Geelong netball export Madi Browne during a Super Netball game between Collingwood Magpies and Adelaide Thunderbirds in 2018. Picture: AAP Image/David Mariuz.

One of Australia’s most successful netballers began her career the same way many young players in Geelong do.

Madi Browne, who represented the Australian Diamonds for nine years and played for the Melbourne Kestrels, Melbourne Vixens, West Coast Fever and Collingwood Magpies, first stepped onto a netball court at Kardinia Park.

Browne said in her pleated skirt, polo and bib she played her first game of netball for on court one – like many under-11 netballers still do today.

“We were sacking everyone and teams started forfeiting so they didn’t have to play against us,” she said.

“They asked us to leave the competition half way through the season and at that stage Newcomb didn’t have an under-13 team.

“They were happy to make us their team and the league said yes but we wouldn’t get any points, we’d start on zero.

“That was halfway through the season and we won the premiership.”

Browne said South Barwon was then struggling with juniors so her mum Chris, coach Shirley Fagan, and some of the team made the switch to the Swans.

“We won multiple premierships at South Barwon,” Browne said.

“I think my love of sport was fostered playing in football and netball clubs in Geelong, I wouldn’t have fallen in love with it if it wasn’t for the parents and volunteers who allow kids to play sport in a safe and fun way.

“I made lots of friendships playing team sports from a young age.”

Madi Browne, one of Australia’s most successful netballers, first played netball at Kardinia Park and is now thinking of returning to her home town of Geelong with baby Judd. Picture: Ginger + Mint

Browne currently lives in Melbourne but is thinking of making the move back to her home town with her young family.

“I love sport in Geelong, the community vibes at a football and netball club,” she said.

Browne first represented the Diamonds in 2010 during a tour of England and played in two Commonwealth Games teams, winning gold in 2014 and silver in 2018.

She captained the Vixens in 2016, after returning from a ruptured ACL, and the Diamonds in 2017.

She won the Liz Ellis Diamond award in 2012 and 2014, was Australian International Player of the Year in 2012 and 2014, and was ANZ Championship Player of the Year in 2012.

South Barwon and Newcomb are among the more than 140 under-9 football and under-11 netball teams featured in this year’s My First Club.

Readers will be able to access team photos of greater Geelong region teams exclusively online from June 19 before the Addy’s 28-page liftout hits newsstands on June 26.

Originally published as From Kardinia Park to gold medals: Madi Browne’s classic Geelong netball beginnings