From Grassroots to Greatness: Maddy Gordon
Pulse Midcourter Maddy Gordon on Her First Netball Memories and What the Game has Taught Her About Life
We’ve all got to start somewhere, and that adage is no different for our best and brightest netball superstars! From their humble roots at their local netball centre through to making it as a professional, all netty players share the same love for the game that was born through their childhood experiences on the courts. We take a trip back down memory lane with some of our ANZ Premiership legends to hear their own origin stories!
Pulse midcourter Maddy Green has had a huge season, impressing with her athleticism and power. Her netball journey started in a similar vein as so many of ours – wanting to be like her mum and aunties, who all played! – but she’s gone on to the highest levels possible of our game through sheer grit, talent and determination. Still, she remembers what it was like as a kid who just loved to get on court and give it a go:
Kia ora Maddy! What was your first netball memory?
Hi! It was definitely playing in the pouring rain on a Saturday morning! I imagine it’s a lot of people’s!
Can you remember why you wanted to play in the first place?
Yes, it was because my mum and all my aunties played netball, so of course I wanted to as well!
Where did you play your first netball, and do you still have ties to your childhood netball centre?
I first played my netball at the Whangarei netball courts at Kensington Sports Park.
Can you remember the moment when you decided that you wanted to play netball as a profession?
Well, I knew from when I was a little girl that I always wanted to be a professional netballer. But the moment I decided to make it happen is when I moved from my hometown and out of home at 16 to pursue my netball in other cities.
What part about netball brings you the greatest joy today?
It’s challenging myself to be a better player every day, being able to play and meet some of the best netball players in the world!
What has netball taught you about life in general?
There's always going to be ups and downs in everything you do. But netball has taught me that it’s about how you bounce back from the hard times, and be better.
How have your early playing days helped shape you into the player you are today?
I always felt like I had to work extra hard in my early playing days to even be noticed which has now made me the player I am today, as it's stuck with me - and I feel like it’s given me a great work ethic today.
When you look at kids playing netball today, what are your thoughts?
It’s funny actually when I watch kids play, I always try and think about what I was like at that age – you know, between five and 10, and I can never remember if I was actually any good! But it’s cool too see them really enjoying themselves and having fun with all their mates because that's what it’s all about at that young age.