Cassar receives league honour

Bridget started playing in 1998 and has achieved many accolades in her time with the Pigeons including 10 A grade grand finals with seven of those premierships, two B grade premierships, A grade B&F winner in 2013, 2014 and 2019 and has played 330 games and counting with 250 in A Grade, 37 in B Grade, 43 in C Grade, a Victorian representative and Ovens and Murray representative.

Bridget has also coached some of the senior sides in the last eight years including A Grade from 2016- 2018, B Grade in 2019, C Grade in 2021, A and B Grades in 2022 and the B Grade this year.

Bridget is already a Life member of Yarrawonga, joining 12 other outstanding netballers to receive the honour.

“I’m incredibly honoured! The milestone fell on O&M grand final day last year and obviously we had more important success to achieve so we kept it under wraps,” Bridget said.

“I started a very long time ago at Yarrawonga, establishing many lifelong friendships and been a small part of a successful period for our club.”

It all started at age four or five for Bridget Tait out at Rennie where her Mum Kay was starring for the Hoppers.

Bridget began her competition netball with Rennie’s Little Midgets team and then juniors before her older sister Janna joined Yarrawonga, starred and subsequently played in premierships with Bridget also keen to join the club.

While at secondary school, when aged 15, 16 and 17, Bridget played national netball, representing and captaining Victoria in Victoria State and Victorian Catholic Schools competitions, winning State championships in the under 17s division and was selected in All Australian teams for both age groups.

At age 18, she played Championship Division in Melbourne with Hume Falcons for two seasons and in London for four years playing the equivalent of Super Netball with Hurricanes.

In her senior career Bridget has also represented the Ovens & Murray at both underage and senior level.

“My parents are football/netball people so I’ve had a ball in my hand since I could walk,” Bridget said.

“I started playing juniors for Rennie in the Coreen league when I was 5, progressing to juniors, then coming into Yarrawonga C grade at 12.

“I’ve been here ever since playing with some incredible players and most importantly friends.

“On court Trace Gillies has been the biggest influence for me as a player and now as a coach. I often still go to Trace for guidance and support, and she has not steered me wrong yet.

“She is also a great family friend to us too!

“Off the court my family have been my biggest influences. My parents have sacrificed a lot and given me every opportunity to play the best and have access to the best level of netball from a very young age.

“Even at my age now, my parents are still there on the sidelines as my biggest supporters, along with my Nan Carroll who is 92 and barely missed a game!

“Also my husband Cass, who is quiet in the background. He encourages me to play and train and be involved and give my all, even with two young boys and renovating houses.

“My older sister, Janna who has played alongside me at the Pigeons too, she is still there each week doing jobs, helping with our kids.”

After playing in the one league for more than 20 years, Bridget has played against and alongside many guns of the O&M, several who are Toni Wilson medallists with others great netballers who have given her grief throughout her career.

“I’m that old I’ve got many opponents to choose from. I remember great teams to be honest, they are a standout to me, over individual players,” Bridget said.

“Albury back in my early days were a force. We have always also had some great grand final tussles with Lavington over the past decade.

“But the best team we have had a big rivalry with would be Wodonga. They had guns everywhere; Bec Cameron and Kylie Murphy were unbelievable in goals, unstoppable. Kelly Smedley and Chrissy Grieve gave me grief defensively.

“Anna Avery in the C with Leona Edwards. Leona would be up there as one of the best midcourters the league has seen. They were skilled and mentally tough!

“I have also been very lucky to have played with an amazing group of girls at Yarra. Too many to name individually.

“Many have won the league’s highest individual honour, the “Toni Wilson medal”. All so talented in their own way contributing to our success as a club.

“Trace Gillies and I go way back and have won a few flags together. Trace coached me for a long period and the last year she played, we played in a B grade flag together with a few other guns, Laura Bourke (Irvine) and Hannah Symes.

“Kaitlyn Bourke (Cummins) would be the best player I’ve played with. We have been friends forever and teammates since we were 11. Her natural ability to cover the court, her versatility through the midcourt and sometimes goals. Her knowledge of the game is unbelievable. She’s another who I still go to for advice now.

“Sarah Senini (Moore) is also a standout. We have been opposition for such a long period and had some great tussles; thankfully she has always been down the other end.

“But every time we played Lavi I just kept shaking my head thinking this chick is unreal, she never bloody misses, I wish I could be like her. Fast forward 15 years we are now playing together, have now won a flag together, great mates and have kids the same age. She brings those around her into the game, a real leader and is awesome to play with! Finally great having her on my team.”

Yarrawonga Life Member and O&M Hall of Famer Tracey Gillies spent many years alongside Bridget on the court and said she is a very deserving recipient of a league Life Membership.

“I coached and played netball at the Pigeons with Bridget for years and years. She has always been a cornerstone of the club,” Tracey said.

“She joined us at about 12 or 13 years old and played in our youngest grade which was C Grade back then. The C Grade won the premiership in 99 with Bridget then debuting in the A Grade in 2011 at 15 and was part of our first A Grade premiership.

“The club has had phenomenal success and a lot of that has been built around Bridget.

“She hasn’t received the amount of accolades she should have with her talent and what she has done for the club and league.

“She’s amazing both on and off the court and I believe will be an O&M Hall of Famer in the future.”

Current YFNC President Ross Mulquiney said it is difficult to choose what to focus on with Bridget.

“Her playing record, her coaching record or her or impact on the Pigeons,” Ross said.

“The truth is they come as an elite all-in-one package. A dominant force in the circle and a dominant force behind modern-day Pigeon netball.

“Bridget is a star of the most dominant sporting team in the district.”

Ovens and Murray Board Chair David Sinclair praised Bridget for her efforts with Yarrawonga and the O&M as a player who has contributed heavily to the success of both.

“Bridget Cassar has been an outstanding servant of the Yarrawonga FNC as well as the league, having played 250 games including seven A Grade premierships,” Mr Sinclair said.

“Bridget has been a fundamental component to the Yarrawonga netball dynasty.

“Not only has she been a champion on the court but more importantly a wonderful person that's contributed enormously to the overall success of the O&M netball competition.”

Bridget commended the culture of the Yarrawonga Football Netball Club as the reason numerous Pigeon’s players have reached big milestones, saying she has never looked back since joining the club at 12 years of age.

“As a senior player with young kids, Yarrawonga is honestly the best place to be. The club from the junior program right through to senior level has great people involved.” Bridget said.

“I’m very proud to be part of such a small but successful club. When so many people are passionate it’s surprising how quickly a milestone like this comes around.

“We have lots of players notching up big games which is a testament to the culture that has been created.

“I’m so glad my sister and parents supported me to have a crack at Yarra at the young age of 12. I’ve never looked back.”