New Firebirds recruit, Lara Dunkley, has been playing sport virtually since she was in the womb, but didn’t start playing netball until she was 13, relatively late compared with others who achieve SSN-level success.
The 180cm mid-courter, who can cover all three positions, has turned her hand to most organised sports, as many country kids do when there is little else to do. Lara grew up in the tiny town of Yarram in country Victoria, about 220kms southeast of Melbourne and near the southern most point of the Australian mainland, Wilsons Promontory.
Netball origin story
“My parents initially said no when I said I wanted to play netball,” she said. “I played too many other sports. Sport was just what we lived and breathed so they said no to another sport, to netball. But it was my aunty, who had seen me play basketball, and was herself a good netballer, who said I should give netball a go,” Lara said.
If it hadn’t been for that aunty taking Lara to her first netball session without her parents’ permission, she might now be a national basketball player, or even a ballerina.
Growing up in a small country town, Lara played football, tennis, basketball, squash, badminton, rode horses in pony club and was a swimmer. And she danced.
In fact, Lara was a talented ballerina and at age 12 was offered a ballet scholarship to The Australian Ballet School. But fortunately for the Firebirds she chose to continue with sport.
Growing up Dunkley
One of three sporty kids, Lara was locked in a never-ending battle for supremacy over her brothers.
“Even a game of cards would get so competitive that there would be tears,” she said. “We just wanted to win so bad. We’ve always had that competitiveness in our blood.”
When the forces were combined, as they were in the U12 AFL competition, with all three siblings playing together and coached by dad, celebrated Sydney Swan Hall of Famer, Andrew Dunkley, then the inevitable premiership resulted.
“I was in the ruck, I’d tap it to Josh, he’d fight his way through everyone and kick it to Kyle who would score a goal,” she said. “We won a premiership that year, with Dad coaching.”
Making sacrifices
But eventually the call of the netball court was too strong to ignore and after that first taste of it, Lara was hooked.
“As soon as I got there, I was with my friends, being in that environment with the team focus and the shared responsibility – it’s something that’s stuck with me to this day, something I live by.”
But her love of netball demanded a massive input from her parents, who would drive her three hours each way to netball training and games in Melbourne every week. They clocked up 2000kms a week driving Lara back and forth to training and games.
“I’d catch a bus from school for an hour then mum and dad would pick me up and we’d drive another two hours to Melbourne and then three hours home, four times a week.
“My life consisted of eating, sleeping and studying in the car. But it’s just what I had to do for netball. I really loved it and I put in the hard yards,” she said.
The rewards came quickly and looking back on her five years with the Victorian Fury, Lara is grateful for every lesson that has helped her develop and get to where she is today.
“Every coach has had an impact on me and having so many different coaches has really been a good thing. Every single one of them has given me something to take away and something that has strengthened my game,” she said.
The Victorian connection
Coming up through the Victorian pathway, it’s probably no great surprise that Dunkley and beloved retiring Firebird Caitlyn Nevins, also a Vixen originally, have crossed paths.
“I knew her as “Strachany” (Nevins’ maiden name was Strachan) when she played in the Fury and the first club I was affiliated with in State League, she was the captain.
“I grew up admiring her and wanting to follow in her footsteps, so it was great when she messaged me the other day, welcoming me to the team!”
Joining the major league
Stepping up from the state league to national level can be a daunting and challenging step for many athletes.
“Being a training partner for the Vixens for a few years has helped me with the step up from ANL level with the Fury to the SSN level,” she said.
“It’s a massive step up in intensity and the work rate is on a whole other level.” But since making her debut in Round 6 of the 2019 season she has settled into the requirements and is now raring to go and become an impact player for the Firebirds.
Lara is focused on working hard for the team and building connections with the players.
“I’m looking forward to connecting with my teammates. I think you’ve got to have that connection and that culture on and off the court. You can see it in winning teams, such as the Swifts. They have that connection and that culture off the court – you can see it in their on-court performance.
“I’m so excited to now be a part of the purple family. I’m looking forward to playing where I’m needed and creating something special for 2020.”
