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Gippsland League is proud to unveil a special Indigenous dress design that will be worn by the Gippsland Stars during the Victorian Netball League First Nations Round on Wednesday, May 27.
The VNL First Nations Round aligns with National Reconciliation Week and celebrates the culture, stories and contributions of First Nations peoples within netball communities across Victoria. Clubs throughout the competition will wear specially designed dresses and take part in cultural initiatives to recognise and celebrate Indigenous heritage. The Gippsland Stars will proudly wear the dress when they take on Bendigo Strikers as part of the competition-wide celebration. The Gippsland Stars’ commitment to honouring First Nations Round is proudly supported by our partner, VACCA. Strong Aboriginal families and communities means strong Aboriginal children. As Victoria’s peak voice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, the Victorian Aboriginal Child and Community Agency has protected and promoted the rights of Aboriginal children, young people, families and community since 1977. VACCA has supported the Gippsland League since 2024 and, in 2026, has come on board to support the Gippsland Stars and this special project. The dress has been designed with strong Gippsland influences, featuring symbols representing rivers, hills and mountains throughout the region. The blue oval shape surrounded by gold dots represents each girl within the program, while the symbols inside reflect Gippsland stories and identity. Stars featured throughout the design symbolise belief, pride and aspiration for the athletes who wear the dress. The Gippsland Stars are honoured to have the design featured on the dresses and to help share its meaning, while also recognising its special connection to Gippsland Stars representative Anna Solomon. A proud Dunghutti/Ngarigo Monero woman, Solomon has become a respected leader within the Gippsland Stars and broader Victorian netball pathway system. Solomon captained Victoria’s First Nations side in 2025 at the Netball Australia First Nations Tournament, after being selected to lead the state team for a second consecutive year. The Victorian Netball League First Nations Round forms part of the 2026 VNL season and is one of the competition’s key celebration rounds, highlighting Indigenous culture while continuing to strengthen pathways and opportunities for First Nations athletes across the state. Led by Solomon and Gippsland League General Manager Daniel Heathcote, the project continues the Gippsland Stars and Gippsland League’s ongoing commitment to celebrating First Nations contributions to netball and football. It follows the introduction of the Gippsland League’s Indigenous Round in 2025, which will again continue in 2026, led by Drouin Football Netball Club and Wonthaggi Power Football Netball Club.  The Gippsland Stars have continued to showcase the strength of their regional pathway program throughout the 2026 Victorian Netball League season, with a number of athletes making their VNL debuts across Championship, 23 & Under and Reserves levels.
Round 1 saw five players make their Championship debuts for the Gippsland Stars, with Abbey Barrientos, Jordan Pyle, Keighley Starrett, Sam Silvester and Abby Williams all pulling on the Stars dress for the first time at the competition’s highest level. The 23 & Under program also welcomed a new wave of talent, with Lara Noblett, Marley Wallace, Mia Arnberger, Mia Williams and Tyla Peters all making both their Gippsland Stars and Victorian Netball League debuts during the opening rounds of the season. Additional debutants throughout the year have highlighted the continued success of the Gippsland Stars development pathway, with several athletes progressing through the State Super Netball Series and development programs into VNL competition. Lainey Downie became player 45 to represent Gippsland Stars at VNL level after progressing through the Stars development pathway and SSNS Eastern Premiership programs before earning a 2026 23 & Under contract. Amber Holt followed shortly after, becoming player 46 to represent the Gippsland Stars at VNL level in Round 4. Chloe Felsbourg then became player 47 at VNL level after also progressing through the Gippsland Stars pathway system and SSNS programs into the 23 & Under side. Reagan Joyce became player 48 to represent Gippsland Stars at VNL level after captaining the 2026 VNL Reserves side and developing through the Stars pathway since year one. The Gippsland Stars also celebrated Heidi Allen stepping up from the 19 & Under program to make her VNL Reserves debut after being recognised as the 2025 17 & Under Rising Star. The continued emergence of new VNL athletes reflects the Gippsland Stars’ ongoing commitment to providing elite pathway opportunities for regional athletes and developing the next generation of Gippsland netball talent.  Congratulations to Gippsland Stars Championship goaler Sam Silvester, who created history during last night’s Round 6 Victorian Netball League clash by becoming the first Gippsland Stars athlete to shoot 50 goals in a single VNL game.
Silvester’s outstanding performance eclipsed the previous club record of 48 goals, which she also set earlier this season in Round 1, continuing her remarkable start to the 2026 campaign. The milestone is another significant achievement for both Silvester and the Gippsland Stars Championship program, highlighting the strength and development of the club within the Victorian Netball League competition. Known for her strong presence under the post, accuracy and composure in pressure moments, Silvester has quickly established herself as one of the key attacking players in the competition and continues to play a major role in the Stars’ success this season. The Gippsland Stars congratulate Sam on her historic achievement and look forward to seeing her continue to shine throughout the remainder of the 2026 VNL season.  The Gippsland Stars once again delivered an unforgettable afternoon of netball at Warragul Leisure Centre, with another sell-out crowd packing the venue for the second consecutive year and more than 500 supporters coming through the gates to support the Stars.
The electric atmosphere created by Stars fans helped make the event one of the highlights of the Victorian Netball League season so far, with a series of close contests and exciting performances across the night. Gippsland Stars Championship side continued its strong form with a thrilling 54-56 battle against the Southern Saints in Round 3, before the 23 & Under side also went down in a nail-biter, 49-54. The Stars Reserves rounded out the evening with a narrow 48-46 result in another hard-fought clash. In the State Super Netball Series, the 19 & Under side had the bye, while the 17 & Under team produced a strong performance to defeat Eastern, 58-48. The evening once again highlighted the continued growth and support behind the Gippsland Stars program, with local netball supporters turning out in huge numbers to back Gippsland’s elite pathway athletes. A special thank you goes to all Stars fans who attended and created such an incredible atmosphere throughout the day. The support from the Gippsland community continues to play a major role in the success and growth of the program both on and off the court. The Gippsland Stars also acknowledge the efforts of the many volunteers, development players and parents who assisted throughout the event to ensure the matchday ran smoothly. Another highlight of the evening was the involvement of the club mascots and Net Set Go participants, who proudly welcomed the athletes onto the court and added to the excitement of the occasion. With strong crowds, competitive matches and continued community support, the Gippsland Stars continue to showcase the strength of netball pathways across the Gippsland region.  The Gippsland Stars are calling all aspiring netballers — trials for the 2026 season are now open! Whether you’re a seasoned player, a returning 2025 netballer, or a young athlete looking for your shot at representative netball, this is your chance to join the Stars family.
Trial Information
If you’re considering trialling, now is the time to register your interest. Prepare to showcase not just your netball skills — but also your attitude, commitment, and teamwork. This could be your pathway to elite-level competition with the Stars in 2026.  The 2025 season proved to be a historic one for the Gippsland Stars, with the club’s youth pathways delivering double premiership glory in the State Super Netball Series (SSNS). In an extraordinary showing of grit and composure, the Stars claimed both the 17 & Under and 19 & Under titles — a milestone achievement that will be remembered as a defining moment for regional netball in Gippsland. In their inaugural SSNS season, the Stars’ 17 & Under squad stunned the competition — culminating in a dramatic Grand Final victory that will live long in club folklore. With the clock winding down and pressure mounting, young star Mia Ballinger held her nerve to slot the match-winning goal just after the final siren. Her clutch performance not only sealed the premiership but also earned her the Grand Final Best on Court. The moment was a fairytale finish — and a powerful signal of the potential that lies within Gippsland’s grassroots netball structure. Meanwhile, the Stars’ 19 & Under team delivered a masterclass in resilience and composure under pressure. In a high-stakes Grand Final that tested nerves and endurance, the Stars mounted a thrilling comeback to clinch the 19U Division 1 crown. Key to the win was goal shooter Lara Noblett — whose accuracy and presence inside the circle turned the tide at the business end of the game. Her outstanding performance was rewarded with the Best on Court medal, adding further shine to a memorable night. These twin premierships are more than just trophies — they represent the strength and depth of Gippsland’s netball pathways. From promising juniors to high-performing youth athletes, the Stars have shown that regional Victoria can produce elite-level talent capable of performing on the big stage. For families, clubs, and local communities, the success offers tangible evidence that dedication, grassroots development, and regional pride can combine to deliver excellence. 2025 will go down in Gippsland Stars history as a season of breakthrough, belief and promise. The SSNS double flags are a testament to the hard work of players, coaches, volunteers and supporters across the region — and a sign that the best may still be to come for Gippsland netball.  The Gippsland Stars hosted Peninsula Waves at ETU Arena in Round 5 of the 2025 Victorian Netball League, with a sell-out crowd of more than 300 people packing the venue for a huge night of regional netball. The atmosphere was electric from start to finish as supporters, families and junior players filled every inch of the arena. On court, the Stars delivered two strong results. The Championship team claimed a thrilling 48–45 victory, holding their nerve in the closing minutes to secure the win in front of the home crowd. The 23 & Under match was just as hard-fought, finishing in a 45–45 draw after four tight quarters. Both games showed composure and resilience from the Stars’ squads and highlighted the depth of talent coming through the program. The evening marked an important milestone for the club, proving that elite-level netball has powerful support across Gippsland. The event showcased not only the quality of VNL competition, but also the strength of community backing behind the Stars, their pathway athletes, and the region’s future in the sport.  The Gippsland Stars, Gippsland League’s Victorian Netball League program, entered their second year of competition in 2025. This season saw the introduction of a VNL Championship side and the expansion of the pathway program to include a 17 & Under team alongside the existing 19 & Under State Super Netball Series squad.
Below are the confirmed squads for the 2025 season. VNL Championship Squad – 2025Coach: Stacie Gardiner Players:
VNL 23 & Under Squad – 2025Coach: Jo Ballinger Players:
SSNS 19 & Under Squad – 2025Coach: Skye McDonald Players:
SSNS 17 & Under Squad – 2025Coach: Abby Gregorovich Players:
 The Gippsland Stars first home match scheduled for Round 7 of the Victorian Netball League 2024 season, originally scheduled for Drouin, will take place at the State Hockey Netball Centre.
The fixture was originally scheduled to take place at Bellbird Park Sports Centre in Drouin, however the committee has made the decision to revert the game back to the State Hockey Netball Centre, after receiving advice from Netball Victoria regarding the court run off section. The committee made the decision due to the existing team benches at Bellbird Park being inside the 3 metre run off regulation & the advice of the requirement to move the benches for the match into the existing grandstand. This requirement would remove the ability to cater for adequate spectators for both the Stars and travelling Casey teams. With no alternate venues available in the region for the fixture that meet the run off regulation & having the ability to cater for adequate spectators, the unfortunate decision was made not to host our first home match in Round 7. We would like to thank the team at Bellbird Park for moving around weekly social competition schedules to cater for the original booking of the match. We are looking forward to the Round 19 fixture later in the season where Netball Victoria will host matches at Traralgon's Gippsland Regional Indoor Sports Stadium where the Stars will be playing Boroondara Express in the 23 & Under match. The Gippsland Stars VNL squad is starting to come together with the first batch of signed players. Congratulations to the players who have made the extended 15 player squad for 2024 so far 23 & Under Female Squad Alison Dwyer Brooke de Riter Charlize Bird Charlize Traumanis Emma Felsovary Hollie Bugeja Sophie Lecchino  |
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