By Stephanie Smarrelli
Max Major embodies the excitement pulsating through the men’s netball community.
The 14-year-old is one of many promising male talents playing netball in Australia.
And with the Australian men’s netball team coming off the back of history-making international series’ against New Zealand and England, the future for teenagers like Max has never looked brighter.
Max first fell in love with playing netball two years ago and the rest, as they say, was history.
“My sisters have been playing for five years and I was watching their games a lot,” he said.
“Then their club held an open day and you could play fun games. I joined in and really liked it. Then I got into a club team which was all girls at the time,” Max said.
Max takes the court in the Victorian Men’s and Mixed Netball Association’s Junior MLeague competition for Waverley District.
Max was inspired to give netball a go after attending a club open day.Regularly donning the centre and wing attack bibs, one of the things he loves most about netball is that it is a team sport.
“You can't really hog the ball which often happens in sports like basketball,” he said.
Max also enjoys how playing netball makes him feel.
“When I have a good game I feel really good but I’ve also learnt a lot from the games that I’ve lost as well,” Max said.
The youngster says his biggest supporters are those he spends the most time with on and off the court, including his coaches, teammates and family.
“My teammates are really nice and that social element is good. While my family always takes me to matches even though it is a big drive and the coaches are really good,” he said.
He also highlighted the importance of seeing the Australian Men’s Team playing on the big stage which showcases that there is a pathway for male netballers.
“I didn't really think I would be able to play past year six when I first got into netball. My club has been really good at getting men’s netball and spreading the word,” Max said.
Australian men’s netballer Alastair Punshon, who Max met last week, said he loved seeing young men like Max give the sport a go.
“It is so important to have idols and have an actual path to follow in a sport that you really want to play. It was something that I had with a few friends playing for Victoria. Having them at that level helped motivate me and I love seeing the younger generation have that too,” Alastair said.
Australian men's netballer Alastair Punshon believes it's important for boys like Max to have role models in the sport.Reflecting on playing for Australia, Alastair acknowledged the importance of the Australian Men’s Team playing televised curtain raiser matches against New Zealand and England ahead of the Origin Australian Diamonds.
“I think it was so important to have those curtain raisers. It gives young male netballers and young netballers everywhere a goal to focus on so that they know they can actually play in front of friends and family in a crowd, on the big screen and at the highest level,” he said.
When Max was asked about who he looks up to, he referred to the older boys at his club, particularly those who play in the under 17s state team. But he also takes inspiration from Diamonds captain Liz Watson.
And what does he want to achieve in the sport? Well, Max’s ambitions were clear.
“I would like to make the under 17 state team that people from my club are in. I would want to one day play for Australia,” he said.
