Joining us on centralvicfooty.com.au is one of the greats of the HDNL, playing in numerous A Grade Premiership winning sides at her beloved White Hills, also a multiple Club and League best and fairest winner, recently celebrated the birth of her first child Cooper with husband and fellow White Hills stalwart on the football field in David McConnell, and now has made a return to the court in the trusty Centre position, it’s a warm welcome to Zenda McConnell……

(Benny)Thanks for your time Zenda, squeezing us in between being a player, a coach, and also a key member of organising social activities within the White Hills Football Netball Club…yet still playing high quality netball, and also you’re a mum now, so you must love being busy? Where do you find the time for it all?

(Zenda)Thanks for the opportunity to chat Ben.  Yes, life is certainly busy.  It’s always been busy however I guess you could say its a new kind of busy.  Cooper is heaps of fun and there’s always something to do for him.  As far as fitting in the club stuff, you always find time for the things you love and I love being part of the White Hills Football Netball Club and the social life that goes with the club and obviously love playing netball too.  Whilst I’ve been on maternity leave I’ve certainly kept busy, spending a lot of time coordinating sponsorship for the football netball club, organising catering for our new upstairs function room each home match and helping out where I can.  I do find the most productive time is later at night when Cooper goes to bed!

You must have a very understanding husband….by the way, David told me to write that!!

David is very patient as I am always working on something or thinking about netball or club things.  He usually thinks I’m doing too much but I just love helping out and seeing our club achieve things.  He knows when I have my mind set on something I will just be going ahead and doing it anyway!

Starting a family is obviously a very big achievement, but you must have also been looking forward to getting back out on the court with the girls? How have you found your return to netball, and how hard was it for you to watch at times last year?

I’ve loved getting back on the court this season.  I love playing netball, it’s a fantastic team sport. 

It was hard physically at the start of pre-season as Cooper was only 9 weeks old when our try-outs commenced.  Even now I’m still gaining back my fitness, endurance and spring. I did only miss playing the second half of last season.  I really found it quite hard to watch the girls play finals as I’m so used to being out there in September.  Since I came to White Hills in 1996 I have played every Grand Final day and am the only player to play in the 8 consecutive premierships.  On those Saturdays in the second half of the season I was chief benchwarmer and special comments girl at quarter time breaks!

Tell us a little about your career in netball Zendy, where it all started, your memories as a little girl growing up playing the game, and how you found your way out to Scott Street?

I’m a country girl - grew up and played all my junior and early senior netball at Nullawil for the Nullawil Netball Club.  Mum & Dad were both successful sporting players in netball & football respectively so I grew up watching them play many finals and luckily having lots of success.  The teams at home were always strong and the clubs had many successes and premierships to show.  When I started work in Bendigo in 1991 I kept travelling up to Nullawil for 5 years playing all my sport however in 1996 I ended up at White Hills, it came about in a round about way.  I decided to come to the Hillies because Jodie who I worked with was going to try-out, and she was because her sister in law was going to play there and her sister in law was going to play there because her friend was coaching the Senior football who turned out to be Sean Cahoon from Birchip who I also knew.  I did consider going and playing the BFL however loved the atmosphere at the Hillies so have never left.
Not only has playing for White Hills brought you success on a team level and as an individual Zenda, but also introduced you to your husband David? What was your first impression of “Poopsy” when you arrived at the club?

As I said, I came to White Hills in 1996 however it took until the last home & away match, when White Hills played Rushworth at Rushworth for David & I to meet.  Georgie Lanyon introduced us at the end of the football that day and things happened from there.  Hmmm, first impressions of David - witty, cheeky and good fun!

The girls were beaten last year in the A Grade ending a run of 8 (correct me if I’m wrong here Zendy) consecutive premierships by Broadford, now they say all good things must come to an end, but the club has wasted no time in getting back to the top of the HDNA ladder? What do you attribute this to, new recruits, a bit of a fresh start so to speak?

Yes, you are correct.  A fantastic record of 8 A Grade premierships in a row ended with Broadford’s win last year.  Broadford were a very strong team last season and were worthy premiers in the A Grade competition.  Broadford have obviously left the competition, their team would again be tough to beat this year if they were again playing. 

I would say our team is hungry to win again - we have most of the same players as last year.  We have recruited a new club coach - Christie Griffiths - Christie is challenging all players and the team as a whole which I think is showing in our results.  It’s great to have a fresh approach, some new ideas and clear direction for the teams.  Merryn Rogan has also joined the club this season - Merryn is a mid-court player who adds another dimension to the team.  For some time now, the club has consistently had the ability to attract and retain good players.  We don’t have huge turnover in our senior teams, this definitely helps.  Most people come to White Hills and enjoy both the success of the teams and the off-court social scene so much that they don’t leave.

(The triumphant 2007 A Grade HDNA Premiers)

Looking at the 2009 version of the A grade side, who are the players that have impressed and caught your eye so far Zenda?

Wal (Michelle Atherton) - is a fantastic goaler.  It’s just great to have a player in your team that shoots so accurately and plays smart. I love playing with Wal.  Jac Louttit - Jac has worked on her fitness over the pre-season and has really stepped up in this first round.  She is playing some great defence with her partner in crime - Janene Cass.  Nene just has these long arms that get to so many balls.  Christie has been a welcome addition to our team.  She has played some great games in WA, her drives into attack and onto the goal circle have certainly been a focal point.

And the competition as a whole, since you joined White Hills all the way back in 1996,  How has the standard and skill of the sides progressed, is the game quicker or more tactical these days?

The standard of netball in the A Grade competiton has varied over the years.  Usually there has been a definite difference between say the top 3-4 teams and the rest of the field.  For a couple of years it was great when the top 6-7 teams were challenging for finals positions.  It’s hard to say, however I would say our strongest teams in my time at the club were in the early 2000’s.  We were a team that didn’t change much in make-up and gelled really well, just knowing what each other was doing/reading each other’s play and body language.  Everyone would just lift when needed, nothing would need to be said.

Who are the Hilly’s main threats for A Grade success in 2009 among the HDNA?

It’s hard to say, however having just played all teams once now gives us a bit of an insight. Although the scoreboard might not always indicate, we’ve had tough encounters against Colbo, Nth Bendigo, Mt Pleasant and Huntly so I would say these teams.  In saying that, there has been some results between other teams that have surprised me so I’m really not sure.  Colbo are always tough opponents and Nth Bendigo have picked up a couple of good players this year, strengthening their team from last year.

 

  (Zenda McConnell with another White Hills star in Jessica Sawyer)

And finally, take us through some of the best netballers you have both played with and against throughout your time in the HDNA Zenda?

Wal (Michelle Atherton), Nadine Anderson, Stacey Rhook & Janene Cass - all team mates at White Hills that have been able to win games with their gutsy performances.

The Hopkins girls from Lockington - we’ve had some fantastic battles with them over the years. Fortunately for me, we’ve won the big games.

Anne McEvoy - legend at Colbo.  In the early years I played on Anne quite a bit when she was still running around in the centre.

Now looking ahead, in a little over a months time in fact, White Hills Netball Club are celebrating a significant milestone, the 25th Anniversary of the club! Its going to be a huge night Zenda, tell us what’s on the cards?

Yes, a very exciting time for the club.  A time for all people with a passion for the White Hills Netball Club to get back around the club and reminisce and catch-up. 

On Saturday 4th July when White Hills takes on Colbinabbin at McKern Oval, Scott St, White Hills we will be hosting some celebrations.  An Afternoon tea from 2-4pm and then a Night Function from 7pm-12:30pm. There will be a few formalities, some history on display, some music and hopefully lots of people coming back to catch-up and celebrate what is a very successful 25 years for our Netball Club.  Everyone is welcome to attend - current/past players, families, partners and friends.

We do have some 25 year anniversary merchandise that will be available for purchase - wine glass & stubbyholder - and would appreciate if people would pre-order so that we can meet all requests.  We have sent out invitations to as many people as we have addresses for and are generally just trying to get the word out there to come along for a great day/night.

And if people, past players, family members or just supporters in general would like more details, who do they get in contact with?

They can contact either myself on 5448 4553 or Janene Cass on 5448 4243 or visit the club website at www.whfnc.vcfl.com.au for all the details. We really would appreciate if people would RSVP so that we can cater appropriately for the day/night.

Zenda McConnell, a star of the country Victorian netball scene, its been a pleasure talking to you on Central Vic Footy, while we talk a lot of football we love our netballers just as much as they are the backbone of every club around the region…so we wish you all the best for the remainder of this year on the court, and also for the big night on July 4th at the McKern Oval Social Rooms!

Thanks Ben for the opportunity to chat.  It’s great that you are also giving netball exposure on Central Vic Footy as it is a very important part of the make-up of all football clubs. Go Hillies!

Categories: Interviews, Netball
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