Barnawartha's Jo Withers reflects on her netball career, with more to come

For Jo Withers, home has been many places throughout her life.

Originally from Bendigo, Withers had moved to Adelaide and Brisbane before settling on the border when she was 11 with her parents Michael and Lorraine and sisters Kelly, Chloe and Carli.

But despite the change of scenery, she's always felt right at home on the netball court.

"My dad was in the army and we ended up here, but then he was posted to Melbourne," Withers said.

"We stayed here and dad commuted for 12 months or so, then eventually we all settled here.

"I'd have to go to Melbourne with some of my netball stuff and I'd go and stay with dad down on the barracks.

"Each time we had to move you just got used to it.

"I look back now and it helps you be resilient.

"I've got good friends here, there and everywhere."

Withers first joined Wodonga Raiders in the Ovens and Murray League as a teenager, while also playing representative netball.

Playing under coach Jodie House, it was there that Withers met Al Leech, who would later help her to call Barnawartha home.

"We had some good, strong teams back then and I remember the training was really hard," she said.

"I learnt a lot there and through Al.

"She had later gone out to Barny and she rang me one day asking me to come out.

"My husband (Jarrod) and I went out there.

"He did his knee the first year and never played again, but I never looked back.

"I just loved the club."

Withers has since gone on to play in three premierships with the Tigers, coming runners-up twice.

She's also cemented her place in TDNA history as a two-time league best and fairest winner.

"The first one I was not expecting at all," she said.

"I was new to the league and thought I'd go for a drink and then I was like, wow.

"I said to the girls at the table, I had probably had a few too many cold ones.

"You look at the trophies back then and it's nice to be named alongside some good netballers over the years.

"The individual accolades are nice, but I love the premierships as a team."

While she believes she's been lucky with injuries during her career, she had one she didn't even realise.

"I did my knee in 2017 coming into finals," she said.

"It hurt but it felt alright, so I went and saw the physio because I wanted to play the next week.

"I got an MRI and they said that everything was good.

"I went back to the physio and he strapped me up and put me through the tests to see if I'd be alright for Saturday, but I still didn't feel right.

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"A couple of months later just before Christmas I was mucking around with the kids and jumped and landed and my knee went again.

"I thought something's not right, so I went back to the physio and they reviewed the scans and said you've done your ACL.

"I was just going on with life as normal just without netball.

"I had my knee done in the June and was back doing preseason in the January and was able to get a season in."

Interleague matches have always been a highlight for Withers, who never hesitated to represent her league.

"It was always good to come together with girls from the other clubs and play good quality netball," she said.

"You don't get a lot of training in the lead up to it, but when you're playing with people like that, it's always good."

Withers has also become a leader at the club, having previously coached A-grade.

While she has now handed the coaching reins over to Chloe Butters, the 38-year-old is still stepping on court.

"I enjoyed coaching, but I wouldn't say I was overly qualified when you see people like Al and the way they carry themselves as coaches," she said.

"Chloe was assistant for me and for a young girl, she's doing a really good job.

"We have a lot of young ones coming through the club.

"The girls I'm playing with now, I'm feeling very old.

"I'm really excited to play with them."

Withers was able to reach a special milestone this season, playing alongside both her sister Chloe and 15-year-old daughter Mahalia.

Her son Kaiden, affectionately known as 'Buddha,' is also playing for the Tigers.

"I've always wanted to have a game with her and I'm getting on a bit now," she said.

"Both the kids have been out there since they were born.

"It's good to have them playing out there now."

Soccer, tennis, basketball and swimming have all been other sports that have sparked her interest over the years.

"Mum and dad always had us in sport," she said.

"If we wanted to do it they would support us.

"There was a lot of stuff along the way, but netball was always the main one I really stuck with and enjoyed."

While she jokes she doesn't know how much longer she'll be able to keep pulling on the dress, Withers has no plans to retire just yet.

Barnawartha has become her home.

"It's nice to be able to play and I've always thrived to play at the highest level," she said.

"Dad has always said you're a long time retired.

"He was in his early 40s still trying to kick the footy around.

"He says once it's done, it's done.

"I'll keep going for as long as I can."

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