Madi Browne opens up on grassroots netball return at Torquay and hope for future Geelong SSN expansion

Madi Browne returns to the local netball scene on Saturday, after joining BFNL contender Torquay as a coach. The ex-Diamond and SSN commentator opens up on the move, and the Tigers’ prospects.

Madi Browne is ready to juggle multiple balls this netball season.

Set to ride the sidelines for Torquay’s home season-opener against Geelong Amateur on Saturday – joining the Tigers as a specialist netball coach alongside A grade coach Sonia Harris last November – Browne will then make the drive to Melbourne and get behind the microphone for SEN as part of its Melbourne Mavericks and Sunshine Coast Lightning Suncorp Super Netball (SSN) round 1 coverage from 7pm.

“Most weekends will look like that, and sometimes I’m on Fox on Sunday,” Browne, 37, said.

“Big weekends, but hey, we love it.”

Moving back to the region in late 2024 after up to 17 years away, the two-time Liz Ellis Diamond medallist and Commonwealth Games gold medallist – who started her career at Newcomb and South Barwon before rising to the elite levels – initially had no intentions of returning to the local netball scene.

Madi Browne with son Judd and partner Harry Whitty have relocated to Torquay. Picture: Instagram

Madi Browne with son Judd in Torquay. Picture: Instagram

But after settling in Torquay with partner Harry and son Judd, 1, Browne said the decision to return to the fold came with the hope of immersing herself in her new community, Harris and Torquay’s Meagan Mifsud also quick to sound out Browne’s interest.

“I’ve never lived in Torquay, I just wanted to connect with people, meet some great women, families with kids,” she said.

“I must admit, at the start I was like ‘I’ll just rock up to training every now and again’ but I think I’ve missed two trainings, I’m there every week.

“It’s one of those things, it pulls you in and it’s really hard to stay away.”

Browne’s arrival at the Bellarine club is a boon for an A-grade side hoping to capitalise on their preliminary final appearance in 2024.

Browne has linked up with Torquay A grade coach Sonia Harris. Picture: Alan Barber

Torquay goaler Elisa Hall in action in 2024. Picture: Alan Barber

With Torquay also injecting experience into their ranks with the return of VNL goaler Daisy O’Kane – who will build on her Geelong Cougars connection with fellow goaler Elisa Hall – and the arrival of sisters Kate and Erica Schippers, Browne was buoyed by the Tigers’ prospects this season, even if some new connections take some time to take hold.

“Finishing third last year, you’re only as good as your last result, and we’ve got some new players from different teams,” Browne said.

“It’s an older, more experienced side.

“It’s knowing our strengths, knowing our brand of netball and sticking to it.

“I think it's so easy to get caught up in, we need to be doing this and as cliche as it sounds, you really do need to run your own race.

“I always say, believe in the process, we’re exactly where we need to be, it’s coming, let's enjoy it along the way.”

A rising tide lifts all boats

Browne knows she likely won’t be able to help herself when it comes to sharing her playing expertise around the region.

In an eyebrow-raising off-season sighting, Browne popped up at Bellarine rival Queenscliff this off-season to run a specialist training session for their senior players.

Browne said the session had been in the pipelines before she had taken on the Torquay role, with Coutas coach Jane Searle – a former Diamond and international coach – the woman who gave Browne her first domestic league start at the Melbourne Kestrels nearly two decades ago.

“Nothing kind of happened, then all of a sudden, they said ‘hey, could you come and do that coaching thing’,” Browne said.

“And I said ‘you know what, absolutely’ I think it’s all about getting amongst the community … it was a little one-off thing and like I said, I owe everything to Jane.

“When she calls, I’m like ‘yes Jane, no Jane, whatever you need Jane’.”

Browne will avoid drawing rival lines with mum Chris, who is back in the GFNL at South Barwon this season mentoring their coaches, though the two did go head-to-head in a pre-season practice match between the Tigers and Swans.

“It was quite interesting seeing her down one end of the bench and me down the other,” Browne said.

“This is where our (sister Kelsey and I’s) passion and love for netball started, from our mum.”

Browne has enjoyed working with Torquay wing attack and joint reigning league best and fairest medallist Kiralee Collings. Picture: Mike Dugdale

For Browne, returning to grassroots netball is all about making sure the next generation of top Geelong and Surf Coast talent are blooded and given opportunities.

“We’ve had our Tegan Phillips, we’ve had Simone (McKinnis) in the coaching ranks, myself, Kelsey, Emily Mannix, there are so many great Geelong talents that are making it to the elite level and the opportunity is there for every youngster playing in BFNL, GFNL, any of our local leagues – you can see it, and you can absolutely do it,” she said.

“I’m loving working with (Torquay’s) Kiralee Collings in WA, she’s got so much talent.

“So yes, while I’m going to be wearing the black and yellow, I’ll still probably see some players out there and say ‘hey, next time do that, or make sure you think about this’ … I can’t help myself.

Madi Browne will continue her SSN commentary duties with the likes of SEN and Fox in 2025. Picture: Kelly Defina/Getty Images

“If anyone wants to come and have a chat on the sidelines from an opposition team, I’m always open to having a chat.”

The commentator is ready to talk all things SSN this season too, predicting an incredibly tight season between the eight clubs.

Browne said she’d love to see a SSN club based in Geelong in the future, though knows the caveat is building a suitable stadium to host games.

“Ideally it would be lovely to have a Geelong team down here and breed our own in the SSN but maybe that’s something in the future to work towards, to get the stadium and get our own SSN team down here in Geelong, that’d be incredible,” she said.

• Torquay and Geelong Amateur’s A-grade fixture starts 1.45pm, today, at Spring Creek Reserve.

Originally published as Madi Browne opens up on grassroots netball return at Torquay and hope for future Geelong SSN expansion