Lavington's Sarah Meredith to celebrate 300 club games as a Panther

Now 30, the long-time Panther has become a role model for the club's up-and-coming talent.

With her 300th club game set to be celebrated this weekend against Wodonga, Meredith said the secret to her sustained career has been luck.

"I started playing pretty early and have been really lucky with injuries," she said.

"I've had some really good role models over the years and the older girls really looked after me and Yenschy (Kate Rollings) when we were juniors."

Having only ever played netball at Lavington, Meredith recalls Wodonga Raiders' Jodie House as being one of her first senior coaches.

"She really took me under her wing and has been great even still now," she said.

Lavington's 2013 premiership remains the pinnacle of her career to date.

With the Panthers taking a new-look playing group onto the court this season, Meredith has found her long-time teammate and friend Sarah Senini is now her opposition after switching to Yarrawonga.

"She's great to play on and with," Meredith said.

"She's not a dirty player or anything like that, so it's not like it's a really physical tussle."

Meredith admitted she's enjoying now taking young players under her wing.

"It's been a bit of a development season this year," she said.

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"We're putting as many juniors through the senior squad as we can.

"It's about having enough experience at the club to teach the shooters, defenders and mids as they come through the ranks.

"They're the future of the club, so it has to be a priority."

With 299 club games already under her belt, Meredith admitted putting on the Panther dress is now just a way of life.

"Netball has become such a big and great part of my life," she said.

"I would never do that fitness in winter without the girls.

"Other than that it's just about the relationships and the girls that you meet."

Meredith's milestone game has been on hold following Victoria's lockdown and subsequent restrictions imposed on regional areas south of the border.

Lavington has so far won four games this season and just sits inside the competition's top five after seven rounds.

A return to play this weekend will see the Panthers take on the Bulldogs at the Lavington Sports Ground, with a double header between Wangaratta and Yarrawonga.

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