How the Mavs want to build their Tassie footprint

The Melbourne Mavericks are intent on building their footprint in Tasmania, including giving more pathways for local talent, as they look to build their fan base during their pre-season visit.

Melbourne Mavericks coach Tracey Neville and captain Amy Parmenter at training in Launceston on Friday. Picture: Jon Tuxworth

Melbourne Mavericks has vowed to immerse itself into Tasmania to generate a fan base and give aspiring local players more opportunity to chase their dreams.

The newest kids on the Super Netball block will play the last of two pre season games against the Giants at Launceston’s Silverdome on Saturday.

After replacing now defunct Collingwood, who also played games in Tasmania, in the league last year, the Mavericks will play a regular season game in Hobart against Queensland Firebirds on May 17.

The Mavericks have also held community clinics in Ulverstone and Burnie this trip, as well as the first pre-season game against the Giants in Ulverstone.

Defending Super Netball champions Adelaide Thunderbirds unveiled an official partnership with Netball Tasmania recently, and have signed north-west talent Charlotte Walker as a training partner for the coming season.

Mavericks coach Tracey Neville said the club is also keen to leave their footprint on the state.

“It’s really important when we come to places like Tasmania that we also do an engagement piece with the community, and there’s also been some state Tassie players come and engage in our sessions,” she said.

Amy Parmenter in action for the Mavericks. (Photo by Maya Thompson/Getty Images)

“Maybe we can get somebody over to the mainland for some opportunities through the year, but for us it’s getting netball out there.

“I think sometimes you’re not in touching distance (in Tasmania) and to bring two SSN teams into this environment, they know what to aspire to be going forward.

“Tasmania’s a great place to come and for us it’s about an engagement piece. The Mavericks play down here later this year, and we’re hoping to get a fan base here as well.

“Hopefully you can attract more and more games here so you can start to promote some of the budding netballers in this place.”

Neville believes there is scope for more Super Netball games to be played at the Silverdome, which is set for a major upgrade in coming months.

“This is an impressive venue. If you look at the John Cain Arena in Melbourne it’s a velodrome as well, so it’s an opportunity for many sports to play here,” she said.

“From my perspective the Silverdome is a great place and hopefully we can come back in the near future.”

Mavericks captain and Australian Diamonds star Amy Parmenter said the team is far more advanced than this time last year, where the ongoing Collective Player Agreement drama affected their inaugural pre season.

“We’ve got a similar group with a few fresh faces, we’re miles ahead from where we were 12 months ago,” Parmenter said.

“Tasmania has had a few really strong netballers, and there isn’t a lot of opportunities. A lot of the time the girls have to come up to Sydney or Melbourne and continue their career there if they want to get to a professional league.

“The more association we can have with clubs and towns down here, the better.”

Saturday’s Mavericks-Giants pre-season clash in Launceston begins at 11am.