Wilson gets to share 200th game milestone with daughter

One of the stars of the Bulldogs' 2008 A-grade premiership triumph and their three-peat of A-reserve flags from 2014 to 2016, Wilson will play her 200th game in blue and gold in Saturday's A-grade clash against Kyneton at Wade Street.

In a twist of fortune, she will get to do so alongside her 21-year-old daughter Keely, who will make her return from Cohuna for the occasion.

Wilson, who first joined the Bulldogs in 2005 after a season with Castlemaine in 2002, could not be happier to be sharing the court with her daughter on such a big occasion.

"I'm sure it's something not many mums or players get to do, probably only a handful," she said.

"I've really been blessed, with Cohuna having the bye, it's made it easier for my family to travel down and watch.

"And there'll be a few old team-mates there too."

The achievement puts Wilson in rare company at Golden Square. She is only the fifth netballer to play 200 games with the club.

It's an honour that caught her a bit by surprise.

"I thought there were a lot of people who have done 200, but looking at the (honour) board last week, there's only a few," Wilson said.

"I honestly thought there would be heaps, but there's only Tamika Stewart, Lia Marrone, Belinda Pinner and Jody Richards.

"I just presumed plenty of people got to 200 games - it's a great list of names to be joining."

Wilson felt privileged to have joined Golden Square during such a dominant era on the netball court, but was above all proud to be still around as the club looks to reinvigorate itself after a couple of season's away from the A-grade finals scene.

"I've had a great career and a lot of wins, especially grand finals, and I still want to see that happen for the girls there now, but it is a rebuilding phase," she said.

"I've stayed because I feel I owe it to the club and girls - I want to help out because I love the club.

"The young girls at Square are really progressing; we probably lack a few more experienced players, but in saying that, it's why I am still around.

"Some of them are so young that they call me Nan on the court.

"The main thing is I want them to stick around and develop together."

Wilson, who has been part of six premierships in total at Golden Square, including back-to-back A-reserve wins in 2006-07, rated the A-grade triumph in 2008 as the standout.

"That was definitely the highlight, everyone wants to win an A-grade one," she said.

"It was a different type of year, we didn't really train with anyone else, we just trained as an A-grade side at the high school.

"It was kind of a team thing, with a definite focus on winning."

Her 200 games with the Bulldogs comprise the bulk of 287 BFNL games in total, boosted by a 63 game stint with Strathfieldsaye from 2009-12.

A memorable four-year period at the Storm netted Wilson three A-grade best and fairests, capped by a joint runner-up finish in the 2009 Betty Thompson Medal count behind star Gisborne midcourter Tiana Newman.

"It was a new club and a new challenge, so I went out there for a bit of a change," Wilson said of her switch to the Storm.

"I had been at Golden Square basically most of the time and my thought was it was not like swapping to another team that was already established."

"But eventually the travel got me. Living at Maiden Gully and with Keely playing at the Schweppes Centre (Bendigo Stadium) on Saturdays, it was getting difficult.

"So I eventually ended up back at Square, because at least I could run up to the Schweppes Centre, pick her up and be back for my game."

Wilson was quick to make her mark on her return, finishing runner-up in the Bulldogs' A-grade best and fairest in 2013.

Her remarkable durability was on show in 2018 when she won the club's A-reserve best and fairest, a year after being restricted to just five games with a nasty Achilles injury.

Tributes from past team-mates and coaches paint Wilson as the epitome of resilience and perseverance.

"Wilson is a great competitor, a workhorse, a great athlete and just a fantastic person to have around any club, Golden Square is so lucky to have her," said Kath Basilwesky, coach of the 2008 premiership team.

"It's been an absolute pleasure to be part of Wilson's netball journey, all the highs and lows. Coming back from an Achilles injury in 2017 is no mean feat.

"I am looking forward to cheering her on the weekend."

Those sentiments were shared by Kendyl Hopley, who coached Wilson during her run of three-straight A-reserve premierships and later in A-grade during 2019.

"What I love most about Wilson's game is when she walks on court she flicks the switch," she said.

"She is so focused, determined and always hungry for the ball.

"Wilson always rips the ball when people least expect it and was a huge part of the three-peat and is an absolute superstar."

Lucy Morcom, now playing in the Loddon Valley league with Mitiamo, hailed Wilson as 'one of the most talented defenders' she had played alongside, while Betty Thompson medallist and 2015 premiership star Meg Gilbert praised her 'never say die' attitude on the court.

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