Netball legend to make a return to the Vixens and Netball Victoria in a key off court role

A legend of Netball is set for a return to the sport, with Netball Victoria and the Melbourne Vixens welcoming a former Australian captain back into the fold in a key off court role.

Australian netball legend Sharelle McMahon is making a return to the Melbourne Vixens and Netball Victoria in a key off-court role.

In a coup for Victorian netball, the former Australian captain and champion goaler will be back in the fold to head up Netball Victoria’s high performance and pathway programs.

McMahon has spent the past three years working at Cricket Victoria as its head of female cricket, but felt the time was right to make a return to netball after the role opened up at Netball Victoria.

One of the greatest netballers of all time, McMahon played 118 Tests for the Diamonds – the second most capped Australian player behind Liz Ellis – was the first Victorian netballer to be immortalised in bronze in a statue outside John Cain Arena and has the Vixens’ annual best and fairest award named in her honour.

Netball great Sharelle McMahon is returning to Netball Victoria and Melbourne Vixens as GM High Performance and Pathways. Picture: Brendan Beckett

After spreading her wings in a different sport, McMahon said she was excited to return to netball to take on a new challenge.

“The opportunities that I have been given through playing netball have been unbelievable in many ways in my life, so it means a huge amount to be able to take this next step in my career,” McMahon said.

“I have been in the role at Cricket Victoria for three years and I have really enjoyed my time in cricket and feel like I have learnt and developed an enormous amount.

“Probably in the back of my mind, I thought eventually I would come back into netball, but it wasn’t at the forefront of my mind when I took on the role in cricket.

“But I think it is the right time for me to be exploring a new opportunity.”

McMahon steps into the new role of general manager of high performance and pathways following Megan Simpson’s move to Netball Australia.

An inaugural captain of the Melbourne Vixens, McMahon played more than 200 games for the Melbourne Phoenix and Vixens and won six national league premierships.

McMahon will work closely with the Vixens’ Super Netball team, Netball Victoria’s high performance and pathway programs in her new role.

Sharelle McMahon is regarded as one of the greatest netballers of all time. Picture: Supplied

The shooting great said ensuring the state’s best netball talent had an avenue to the top and helping netball remain a leader in women’s sport were her priorities.

“It’s been an interesting time in women’s sport and for netball in a few different ways over the last few years and while netball has been a really great leader in women’s sport, I think there is a great opportunity to continue to build and grow and hold that space,” McMahon said.

“It has changed so much since I first started playing netball and women’s sport has changed incredibly in that time and, again, I think it is this exciting time of opportunity for netball.

“So to be part of taking that forward, to ensure that Victorians have lots of great opportunities to participate in sport and for those talented ones, which is the focus of my role at Netball Victoria, to take those talented ones through as far as far as they possibly can – that is something that is a real passion of mine.”

McMahon had worked as a specialist coach with the Vixens, VIS and also the Diamonds before taking up the role at Cricket Victoria.

She has not closed the door on coaching in the future, but right now is more focused on sporting administration.

“Prior to taking the cricket role, I was heading down that coaching path, both with the Vixens and the Australian Diamonds in an assistant coaching role and I do love that, I really do love that space,” McMahon said.

Sharelle McMahon in action for the Melbourne Vixens. Picture: Supplied

“But when I did a bit of planning around what I wanted the future to look like, it was this type of role that really excited me. So that is the path that I am taking at the moment.

“I don’t like to close too many doors or put too many restrictions on what’s next because I never know what opportunities come up, so I would never say never to anything.

“But my focus right now is this role and that overarching piece around making sure we are putting the best and right structures in for those talented players that are coming through.”

McMahon said she had benefited from stepping into a different sporting environment to broaden her perspective.

“I thought that being exposed to a different environment would be really beneficial for me and cricket for a very long time has been one of the leaders in the female sports space,” McMahon said.

“For me, being able to be involved in that area and step out of my comfort zone a little bit has been an opportunity I have really appreciated, I’m very grateful for that opportunity.

“It would have been challenging in many ways to step straight into a role like this, so to be able to be exposed to a different environment, get that experience and learning has opened the possibility of this being a good opportunity for me to take.”

Originally published as Netball legend to make a return to the Vixens and Netball Victoria in a key off court role