Bendigo Advertiser | JODY Richards has been so much more to the Golden Square Football Netball Club than just a gifted goaler.
Player, coach, committee member, sponsor and netball liaison officer are just some of the roles she has filled since she joined the Bulldogs after moving to Bendigo in 1997.
The mother of three will play her 250th game when her unbeaten A-reserve side takes on arch rival Kangaroo Flat at the Dower Park court on Saturday.
Of those matches, 210 were in A-grade but she made the decision in recent years to step away from the top level of competition to give the club’s younger players the chance to develop.
Richards said she was thrilled to see rising stars like sharpshooter Abbey Ryan flourishing in the senior grade after taking the opportunity to fill her shoes.
“Abbey just got runner-up most valuable player in the 19-under Victorian Netball League competition, which is fantastic” she said.
The 38-year-old has had plenty to celebrate herself throughout her career.
She was a member of the 2008 team that won the Bendigo Football Netball League A-grade premiership after playing in losing grand finals in 2004, 2006 and 2007.
Last year, she added an A-reserve title to her trophy cabinet after a convincing 47-29 victory over Sandhurst.
And she has a non-playing premiership under her belt as well, having been an assistant coach in 2011 during and after her third pregnancy, when Square beat Sandhurst in the A-grade decider.
Richards grew up playing netball in Adelaide, eventually reaching State League reserves for the Adelaide Cougars.
After graduating from university as a podiatrist at 19, Richards moved to Bendigo.
The first thing she did on arrival was become involved with Golden Square FNC and it became like a surrogate family.
Her contribution on and off the court was recognised three years ago when she received an outstanding achievement and life membership award for 15 years continuous service.
Richards is supported on the sidelines by husband Chris and daughters Olivia, Elise and Ava.
For the past five years, she has been Golden Square’s netball liaison officer – managing the netball coaches and dealing with inquiries from the media, league and club committee.
She also coaches her daughters’ primary grade four and six teams at Golden City of a Saturday morning and enjoys sharing her netball knowledge with junior players.
Richards has no plans of retiring any time soon.
“As long as the body holds, up, I think I’ll have a few more seasons left in me and might even get to play a few games with my eldest daughter Olivia, who is 11.
“She is very keen to put on the blue and gold uniform for Golden Square – although I have to keep reminding her that some of the tricks she watches us do in seniors don’t translate well into junior netball!”