Mavericks defender Kim Brown on relishing life at her new home in Melbourne after crossing the country twice for netball

The young girl’s dream of representing the Australian Diamonds is still alive for Kim Brown after a back and forth journey across the country took her to Melbourne where she is playing her best netball.

Mavericks defender Kim Brown has not given up on her Diamonds’ dream, as she revels in her new Melbourne home, after crossing from one corner of the country to the other to further her netball career.

In her second season at the Mavericks, Brown (nee Jenner) believed she was now playing some of the best netball of her career at Super Netball’s youngest franchise.

Kim Brown believes she is now playing some of her best netball. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

So content with her new home in Melbourne, Brown became the first Mavericks’ player to sign for a third season with the club, announcing a one-year contract extension in January.

It marked a big start to the year for Brown, who also got married over summer.

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Born in Townsville, Brown has crossed the country twice during her Super Netball career, initially cutting her teeth in a six-year stint at the Queensland Firebirds.

After making her name in the purple dress, Brown made the decision to move to Western Australia to play with the West Coast Fever for season 2023.

Brown’s time in the west only lasted for one season before she landed at the competition’s newest franchise – an environment she felt was helping bring out her best.

“I feel like it has been a little bit of a journey in my career,” Brown said.

Brown (nee Jenner) when playing for the Firebirds in 2021. Picture: Jono Searle/Getty Images

“I’ve loved every single step of the way, but I guess it’s definitely had its challenges.

“My time in Queensland was great, l learnt so much, I got my opportunity there. Going over to Perth was awesome as well and I got to see something new and that made me step out of my comfort zone as well with that move.

“Then I feel like coming over here I have been able to play a bit more netball again and really learn from that and love the game again.

“I have absolutely loved coming over here and playing for (the Mavericks). I feel like we’ve created such a good culture here and I really love learning from (coach) Tracey (Neville) and (assistant coach Nicole) ‘Richo’ (Richardson) and from all the girls.

“I feel good out there playing with all those girls and I think that can really bring the best out of you.

“I’m learning heaps and I’m just happy playing netball which I guess is the really important part as well.”

While Brown’s stint in Perth was short-lived and left her searching for more court time, it turned out to be a “pivotal” move off the court – meeting her husband Zach.

Brown’s stint in the West was short-lived. Picture: Brett Hemmings/Getty Images

“I don’t regret the move to Perth at all, I feel like that was such a pivotal year for me, not just in netball, but also out of netball,” Brown said.

“I met my husband over there, so that’s a win for me.

“I feel like that really helped me push the envelope for me as well in terms of what I wanted and I loved my time over there, but the opportunity that came up at Mavs was something that I couldn’t turn down.”

A Fast5 representative for Australia, Brown, 27, is still chasing her Diamonds’ dream but perfecting her hunting on court for the Mavericks remained the focus for the goal defence.

“I feel like when you are little and playing netball I guess the Diamonds is a dream for every young girl and I would be lying if I said I didn’t want to,” Brown said.

Brown is still chasing her Diamonds’ dream, but the Mavericks remains the focus. Picture: Kelly Defina/Getty Images

“I feel like that is definitely an aspiration, I feel like at the moment I am concentrating on playing netball the best that I can for the Mavs and that environment and whatever comes of that, comes of that.

“I have just been really enjoying trying to play the best netball I can in this environment.”

After narrowly missing the finals in year one in Super Netball, Brown was confident the Mavericks, who face cross-town rivals Melbourne Vixens on Sunday, could go one better this year.

“We have got a really exciting brand of netball that is really coming together,” Brown said.

“The goal is to make finals and I definitely think that we have the group that can do it.”

Originally published as Mavericks defender Kim Brown on relishing life at her new home in Melbourne after crossing the country twice for netball