BOBBIE Simpson was never interested in playing netball, she wanted to play footy with her brothers.
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Yet this weekend, Simpson will run onto the netball court and play her 300th game with the North Bendigo Football Netball Club.
The 36-year-old has been one of the Bulldogs’ best players over her 300 games.
The versatile player has won 12 club best and fairest awards, three Heathcote District Netball Association best and fairest’s and three runner’s up awards.
Yet the one thing that has eluded her, her entire career is winning a premiership.
“We have only made finals two or three times since I began playing,” Simpson said.
“We came close in a preliminary final a few years ago, but we lost by a goal to White Hills.
“That was probably the closest the team has been to making a grand final.”
Simpson, who currently plays for North Bendigo’s A-reserve team, hoped this season the team’s finals fortunes would change.
After eight rounds the Bulldogs sit in first spot, a game clear of Colbinabbin and Lockington-Bamawm United.
“We are just hanging in there, we are not getting ahead of ourselves,” Simpson said.
“We do have a strong team this season.”
Simpson said one of her career highlights was winning the Hayes Simpson medal in the North Bendigo, Huntly game last year.
“I filled in for the A-grade team a couple of times last year and I won the medal,” she said.
“It is named after my mum Diane, so to win the medal was special.”
Simpson said it was her mother who convinced her to play netball.
“I played footy and basketball but not netball,” she laughed.
“But I hung up the footy boots and play netball.
“I am now part of the furniture at North Bendigo.”
On Saturday North Bendigo will host Mount Pleasant.
The club will also officially unveil its newest netball court at its home base at Atkins Street Reserve.