A CELEBRATION of loyalty and dedication like no other was held at Milawa last Saturday as Kim Michelini brought up 650 club games in style.
The 53 year-old mother of four played all four quarters at goal shooter in the B reserve, showing some vintage form to lead the team with 21 goals at 72 per cent shooting and snatch a 50-36 win in the milestone game against Benalla.
Playing in spurts this season and coaching the Demons’ B grade, Michelini has been a stalwart of the Ovens and King competition for over 40 years since she started with the Demons in 1982 as a 12-year-old.
The sharp shooter played an astonishing 28 years in A grade for Milawa and played two seasons with the Wangaratta Magpies in the early 2000s, winning best and fairest in both years and representing the league before re-joining her beloved Demons.
Exactly six years after notching up her 600th club game, Michelini said her perspectives and values of the sport have stayed the same.
“It’s always been about the comradery and friendships you form over the years and not necessarily about the sport itself,” she said.
“I’ve always been about loyalty and dedication to the club and that’s why we’ve got so many life members at our club through netball and football… my milestone alone shows the loyalty people have to the club.
“It’s special, I’ve got three daughters who play at the club, a sister, best friends, a lot of people are involved that are family orientated.
Since her last milestone Michelini has taken a step back from playing and invested more energy into coaching from the sidelines to allow a talented young Demons netball program to take centre stage.
“It’s nice to actually step back on the side of the court, I mean you do see things from a different perspective, it’s harder to coach and play than it is to just coach,” Michelini said.
“I like to see the growth in players, especially the juniors, and I like to see us be successful.
“I just teach my players that every day is a different day, to enjoy it and winning is a bonus; if you enjoy the sport and enjoy who you play with success will come at its own cost.”
Having never lived at Milawa, Michelini’s connection to the club largely stems from her father John.
John was a cult figure for the club throughout the eighties, bringing up over 200 club games before a tragic car accident on the way back to Wangaratta from footy training took his life 35 years ago.
Michelini said her father’s legacy sits strong with her as she looks to provide her younger netballers a role model to look up to, inspiring her continued involvement with the club.
“I’m all about loyalty and that’s what I’ve tried to show my children… it’s not about money, it’s about enjoying the sport, the friendships you form over the years and being dedicated to the sport itself,” she said.
“Not only to my own children but definitely the younger generation, and inspire them that you can still get on the court when you’re over 50, enjoy it and mix it with the best; age is just a number.”
“Being able to share my experiences with them while I’m still on the court and my knowledge, allowing the team to juggle the experienced players with the juniors which is why I think we’ve been successful for so many years; the club has been really good at balancing that.”
Highlights during her illustrious career was being a part of the 2008 A grade premiership side, which snapped a 57 year drought for the club, and has been able to take to the court with daughters Jami, Kyra and Kalceen in the top grade.
Milawa’s B reserve currently sits second on the ladder with three games to play while Michelini’s coached B grade is undefeated on top.
Michelini said after this season she will re-assess her playing career depending on netball numbers, but will never be ruled out of her tireless involvement with the club.
“I’ve never used the word retired, I’m a big believer that when you say you’ve retired you step away,” she said.
“All of these people say they’re retired and they come back, I’m a believer when you use that word you do walk away from it.
“You can be involved in a different capacity, I’ve never once said I’ve retired, even people come up to me and ask if I’ve retired and I just say I’ll see what happens next season.”
By - Bailey Zimmermann
2nd August 2023.
https://www.wangarattachronicle.com.au/netball-sport/michelini-marvels-in-remarkable-milestone
Last Modified on 31/08/2023 17:24
