Reigning Super Netball Champions, Melbourne Vixens Visit Gippsland

The Melbourne Vixens, reigning Suncorp Super Netball champions, and Netball Victoria are expanding their regional presence in Gippsland, driven by a partnership with the Latrobe City Council and the Victorian Government.

This strategic collaboration, which brings elite, pre-elite, and pathway netball activity to the region, aims to capitalise on the rapid growth of the sport, evidenced by Netball Victoria’s all-time high of over 120,000 members in 2025.

The commercial program will see the Vixens visit hundreds of local students in December for clinics and meet-and-greet events, including a Train Like a Vixen On Tour clinic at the Moe & District Netball Association.

In addition, the partnership will also host Round 1 of the Victorian Netball League (VNL) at Traralgon’s Gippsland Regional Indoor Sports Stadium in March 2026.

This VNL fixture, which sees the Gippsland Stars host three other VNL clubs, provides a high-profile, recognisable event that reinforces the club’s development pipeline in a regional stronghold.

The commercial implication of the program is to: close to half of Netball Victoria’s participants are based regionally, and netball participation in the state has grown by 28 per cent since 2022.

Confirming the rationale, Netball Victoria CEO, Andrea Pearman, said: “We know Gippsland is a stronghold for netball in Victoria… Together, we’re building and delivering opportunities that will shape the next generation of Victorian netballers.”

The Victorian Government is supporting the initiative through its Significant Sporting Events Program, aiming to drive economic benefits.

Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events, Steve Dimopoulos, noted the events will help boost local businesses and fill their accommodation providers, positioning the Vixens and VNL as valuable tourism assets for the Traralgon and wider Gippsland region.

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