Netball’s first Hall of Famer has showered the modern-day players with praise after being named in the league’s Team of the Past 25 Years.
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The O and M will host the most unique event in its history when it names three teams, the best netball side since its inception in 1993, along with a football Team of the Century and Team of the Last 25 Years.
A gala event will be held at Albury’s SS&A Club on March 2.
The league is hoping the bumper event will kick-start the season, which starts at the end of next month.
The Border Mail will unveil one player from a team every week in the lead-up to the function.
Lindy Burgess-Singleton was the star player of the competition’s formative years, winning three of the first four league medals.
“It’s a huge honour (to be named), I played it because it was my passion,” she said.
But the midcourt general admits she had an advantage after previously playing State League.
“Very much so, I could read the play well and my fitness was better than everyone,” she said.
“Also, my defensive side was probably my strength because of the coaches I’d had over the years and when you are playing that level, you have to have just as good a defensive game as you do an attacking game.
“The game was a lot slower back in 1993.”
Burgess-Singleton coached her beloved Myrtleford to its first two premierships in 1995, toppling North Albury, and ‘97.
It was one of four clubs the representative star led, also winning club best and fairests at Wodonga, Wodonga Raiders and Corowa-Rutherglen.
The 54-year-old was still playing A grade in her mid 40s with the Roos and says the current game is far superior to the early years.
“It’s amazing to watch,” she enthused of the league standard.
“The intensity is right up there, the defensive game has lifted in the Ovens and Murray, which is great because I felt that lacked when I first went there.
“The attacking game is great too, the goalers are stepping up too and their accuracy is right up there like a State League level, it’s great to watch, I love it.”
Burgess-Singleton can’t wait for the event, but admits the Hall of Fame induction in 2015 has been the career highlight.
“That really stood out to me and to be the first ever netballer (was enormous),” she said.
“That was a wow factor, I just wish my parents had been around because mum (ex-Tasmanian State representative Virginia) and dad (Terry snr) were so involved in the Ovens and Murray, it was just such a huge honour for me.”
Older brother Terry jnr was a Morris medallist, younger brother Scott played in a grand final team, while Terry snr played in Myrtleford’s only premiership after a short career at St Kilda.
“He played in Lindsay Fox’s era and when dad was passing away, my brother contacted Lindsay and he flew up half-a-dozen ex-players.”
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