ONE of Millicent Netball Club’s most decorated and successful netballers, Donna Denton will hit the court for her 400th senior game when the Saints clash with East Gambier at McDonald Park in Round 5 of Western Border netball this weekend.
Denton’s netball career began with Millicent in 1990 as a member of the 15 and Under and B Grade side, which is now known as the A Reserve.
It was in this year Denton was a part of the B Grade premiership team and was also joint winner of the Western Border Netball Association (WBNA) 15 and Under best and fairest award.
Denton represented the WBNA in the interleague competition and was a captain of the 15 and Under side, which won the SA Country Carnival.
She also won the club 15 and Under best and fairest award, while also being awarded the most valued player in the 15 and Under grand final.
Denton’s A Grade career began the following year in 1991 as a young 14-year-old and it was not long before she made her mark.
In 1994, she was named best Under 21 player and won her first WBNA A Grade best and fairest at the tender age of 17.
In 1995, Denton moved to Adelaide to study at university.
However, she did not leave the netball court.
Denton played in the State League Netball competition for Cougars and was a big influence in their premiership-winning year in 1999.
That same season she was also named in the State League Team-of-the-Year.
Denton represented South Australia at both 19 and Under and 21 and Under levels, while playing for Cougars and earned selection in the Australian 21 and Under netball squad.
Denton returned to Millicent in 2000 and took on the role of coaching the A Grade side, where she led them to premiership glory – the first A Grade grand final victory for Millicent in 15 years.
She has since gone on to win a total of 14 A grade premiership titles – 2000-02, 2006-07, 2009-17 – with many of them as playing coach or captain.
She was also recognised as most valued player in five of those grand final wins.
Denton’s WBNA accolades continued over the years, having won a record nine Western Border Netball Association A Grade best and fairest awards with the first in 1994 and her most recent in 2015.
She has also been runner-up best and fairest on numerous occasions, including the last two years and has received the Western Border most consistent player award several times.
Denton has been named in the WBNA team-of-the-year 18 times, as well as coach-of-the-year on several occasions.
She has represented the association in the Victorian and South Australian Country Championships over many years.
Her talent has seen her a key player in championship victories and she has been recognised as one of the top 10 players in the SA Country Carnival on most occasions.
At club level, Denton has won 12 A Grade best and fairest awards, along with being named runner-up on several occasions.
While Denton’s playing achievements are impressive, she has also contributed both to the Millicent Football Netball Club (MFNC) and the WBNA.
Over the years Denton has held the role of netball club president, vice president of the MFNC management committee, WBNA SA registration officer and squad team selector, plus coached the A Grade, A Reserve, 17 and Under and 13 and Under teams, which has led to numerous premierships.
Denton has also been a Net Set Go coordinator for Millicent for several years, is a C Grade badged umpire and a coach for the South East Regional Academy and Western Border Interleague.
Her commitment to the MFNC is impressive and both the junior and senior netballers are lucky to have her as a role model.
The MFNC is proud of her and the key role she has played in the success of the club.
It thanks Denton for her endless commitment.
Her husband Chris, daughters Lucy, Abby and Emily and the rest of her family will be proudly supporting Denton on the sidelines for her milestone game.
The club congratulates Denton and wishes her the best for Saturday, the rest of the season and those yet to come.
