Born and bred Rosedale local Eliza Heywood will run onto the court on Saturday in her 500th senior netball match with the Blues.

Fittingly the milestone will be marked on Eliza's home court at Rosedale when her third placed D Grade side does battle with Gormandale.

Humble in the acknowledgement which comes with such a significant milestone, Eliza started playing with her home club in the underage competition for a year before moving to the senior club where she has played since 1982.

While her aim wasn't to play at a high level, Eliza has played in B Grade through to her current day team in D Grade. Eliza is both an accomplished and versatile player who can play at both ends of the court, and has claimed a string of accolades over her career including back to back club Best and Fairest awards in 1998 and 1999, and runner up awards 1984, 1991 and 2006.

It has been a family affair with Eliza playing a number of games alongside her sisters Bronwyn and Meaghan, and daughter Brooke. Saturdays during her children's early years could be best described as frantic, with Eliza transporting her daughter and two sons to netball and junior football games across the local area before taking to the court in her afternoon match. And she wouldn't have had it any other way.

Reflecting on the 500 games Eliza admits there has been many reasons why she has continued to play for so long, with the birth of her three children only seeing the netballer miss one season of competition. Jokingly Eliza said it was well planned!

"I really enjoy the people and the comradery that comes with playing a team sport and being involved with the club," said Eliza.

Participation has also played a key role in her continuing to pull on the navy netball uniform, Eliza admitting that she would "probably fall in a heap" if she was to retire. While many players and opponents have come and gone over Eliza's career, one of the highlights of playing has been seeing the young players come through the club playing in the lower grades of competition before making their way up the ranks.

Of the notable highlights of her 500 games, Eliza ranks last year's preliminary final berth as "pretty special" due to playing with such a close knit squad of players. Other highlights include playing alongside her daughter Brooke, and perhaps not so memorable torrid weather conditions such as hail which have left Eliza wondering on several occasions what was she doing out on the court!

Experiencing both the highs and lows, Eliza has yet to play in a premiership side although has played off for the ultimate prize in a grand final appearance. Sitting at the top end of the table, with the Blues close to securing a finals berth at seasons end Eliza can offer comfort to opposition sides that are finding it tough.

"When we played Cowwarr in the first round and the end score was quite large, I said to the girls when we got off the court how much I felt for them, then one of the girls reminded me that it was us, that use to be us, and she was right we had been in the spot of not winning, it all comes around in a circle," said Eliza.

A lot has changed during her time at the club including the transition from pleated netball skirts, to the lycra dresses and as of this season A line dress uniforms. Although initially hesitant at the thought of wearing the lycra dress Eliza thought "why not everyone else is putting them on!"

In addition to playing Eliza threw her hat in the ring and delved into the coaching caper taking to the helm of the C Grade side in 2003 and D grade side in 2007. In 2009, the Rosedale Football Netball Club recognised Eliza's contribution to the club not only on the court but off the court in her various roles of committee member, supporter of club projects including grant submission writing for funding and shredding of ingredients for Saturday's salad rolls!

By Lauren Carey