When it comes to Nagambie netball, there is no name more revered than Sharni Lloyd (formerly Hutton).
Joining the club in 1995 at the ripe old age of 14, Lloyd has lived and breathed Nagambie netball for 27 years, and at the weekend entered the record books with her 300th appearance in the Lakers’ 49-32 victory over Merrigum.
Still suiting up in the A-grade side, she was a standout in her milestone game, taking her position at goal attack and slotting a casual 42 of her side’s 49 goals on the day.
Speaking in the aftermath of the special occasion, Lloyd said it was a surreal feeling to bring up 300 games.
“I don’t play for the accolades, I just enjoy netball and the friendships along the way, and I’ve just been lucky enough to do it for a long time. So to bring up 300 games was a bit overwhelming,” Lloyd said.
“I didn’t realise (shooting 42 goals) had actually happened. It was just nice to get a win on the board and it definitely made the occasion that little bit more special being able to celebrate a victory with my teammates.
“It certainly was a day I will always remember and I loved every minute out there on the court.”
When it comes to local netball, Lloyd boasts an incredible resume which includes a B-grade league best-and-fairest in her first season in 1995, four Warren Medals for Kyabram District League’s A-grade best-and-fairest, with the fourth coming a staggering 18 years after the first, and four A-grade premierships.
She has also won an astonishing 10 A-grade best-and-fairests with Nagambie, and having started the 2022 season brightly, an 11th may well and truly be on the cards.
Off the court, Lloyd has also had a tremendous impact on the club, most notably delivering new netball facilities to Nagambie while president of netball operations in 2009.
Looking back over the journey, she identified a couple of highlights from her storied career as a Laker.
“What stands out most to me was when both my dad and I were presidents together in 2009, him of the football club and me the netball club,” she said.
“That was pretty special to share that with him and in that year we won the premiership and got some new netball courts.
“I have made lots of wonderful friends over the years, and it’s funny now I am playing with some of their daughters. But just to have that connection right through my career, that is the reason I play and a definite highlight of the journey.
“I just love being part of the local club. The feeling of having the entire Nagambie community cheering you on is like nothing else and makes me look forward to taking to the court every week.”
And while she may be closer to the end of her career than the start, recent form suggests Lloyd won’t be slowing down anytime soon, with the talented goaler still a major part of the Lakers’ chances at premiership glory in 2022.
“At this stage, for me it’s just one season at a time,” she said.
“After making a good start to the season we are striving for that title, but at the moment it really is just one week at a time.
“The last two years have been difficult with COVID-19 and not having full seasons, so it is just nice being back with the girls again.”