History

 

First and foremost, SACSNA acknowledges the Kulin Nations as the Traditional Owners and custodians of this land and pays respect to their Elders past and present.

We celebrate its rich indigenous history, the diversity of its people and their important ongoing connections to Country. We acknowledge the past injustices faced by our First Peoples and are committed to play our part in ensuring that these injustices are not repeated.

We appreciate that we still have a long journey ahead of us. 

 

The St Albans Netball Association is a non-profit organisation which provides the game of netball to all members
of the community. We have been operating at various venues in St Albans, Kings Park, Delahey, Sydenham, Keilor And Caroline Springs since 1976.

 A brief outline of the history of the St Albans Caroline Springs Netball Association Inc.

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1976:

Commenced games at St. Albans High school (now St. Albans Secondary College) with 7 teams. Provided lighting for outdoor court.

 

1981:

Moved to St. Albans Technical School (Brimbank Secondary College) Provided lighting for outdoor court. 20 teams.

 

1983:

Moved competition indoors into the schools new Gymnasium.

 

1985:

Became Incorporated. Began using Gym Mon/Tues/Wed – 30 teams.

 

1990:

Introduced junior competition, including boys – first Association to allow boys to play in all age groups. Started with 11 teams.

 

1991:

Introduced Senior mixed Competition. Started with 12 teams playing at Copperfield Secondary College junior campus. Juniors had to play at the 2 venues. 18 teams at each venue. Squad teams introduced to represent St. Albans in at Parkville competitions. Council was unable to help with funding for a new venue.

 

1994:

3 Representative teams accepted into State League.

 

2000:

Apparent we need to find a new venue. Total of 16 senior mixed teams, 28 Ladies teams and 43 junior teams. Commenced talks with Council and Copperfield Secondary College to Fund a second indoor court in the new Gymnasium that the school was building. We would pay to have the courts made full size ($100,000) and the council would fund $250,000 towards the cost of a second court.

 

2008:

Commenced games at Caroline Springs 7 ladies teams and 12 junior teams. Won Division 1 Premier grade Autumn ladies comp at Parkville and followed this up by winning the Spring Division 1 grand final as well. One of the very few teams to go back to back in this elite competition. 

 

2012:

Total number of teams at both venues 151 Maria Masei selected in the state 17U squad and later selected in the 17U Australian Squad. Morgan Mitchell selected in the 19U Australian squad. Word is getting around that we are full and teams are going elsewhere which not good as we need to cover the junior teams as they leave. If we had more court space we wouldn’t lose any of these teams. Membership at an all time high of 1458. Ran a very successful cultural awareness program with Netball Victoria as our region is classified disadvantaged. The program was run through the Local primary schools. With the sport growing in popularity and the increasing population in this area I can only see our competition getting bigger Dependant on court space.

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Commenced the year with 145 teams overall. 2 boys selected for Australia 1 - 19 Under, 1 open. 4 girls went to Darwin for the selection Tournament for Australian sides. Locally we have had 6 girls talent identified for future development i.e. state age teams. Big explosion with 9 Under children wanting to play. Currently have 10 - 9U teams entered in Spring season. In total 160 teams playing. 

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Made the decision to rename the representative sides Westside Saints Netball Club to aid sponsorship and funding that is available.  Copperfield College has very strict rules on the type of sponsorship that can be displayed.    

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2015:

Total 116 teams Overall total 170 teams.  85 junior and 85 senior teams.

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Brimbank Council have offered SACSNA first use of the three new courts at Keilor Basketball and Netball stadium providing we put in a junior competition on Saturday mornings.  Courts due to be ready September.

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2016:

KEILOR BASKETBALL NETBALL STADIUM COMPETITION

Our Saturday morning junior competition began in 2016 at Keilor Basketball Netball Stadium and continues to thrive. But this season St Albans Caroline Springs Netball Association has expanded their role and committed partnership with Keilor Basketball Netball stadium and now sees us running the ladies morning/night competition and mid week junior competition.

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2019:

Covid-19 pandemic stops competition of all community sports for months. 

Return to netball policies and outbreaks of Covid-19, would see many disruptions within the competition throughout 2019-2021. 

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2021:

Head Coach Darren Abela resigns from Head Coach position of Westside Saints.

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2022:

Shelley O'Donnell and Tracy Wallace announced as Coaches of Westside Saints

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Trial Competition begins at Cobblebank Stadium, Melton.

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2023

SACSNA become a major sponsor and player pathway partnership development with Western Warriors

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