BY NATHAN DOLE
FRIENDS for decades, Karly Bingham and Alicia McGlashan joined an exclusive club in this season’s netball action in the Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL season.
When both marked their 300th matches on the same day and at the same venue, Bingham and McGlashan earned life membership of the Bendigo FNL.
Both were presented with their medals at Sunday night’s Michelsen Medal and Betty Thompson Medal vote count and awards presentation at Bendigo Club.
McGlashan’s netball journey began at Marong in 1993.
Family links to the Binghams meant it was not long before the gun defender made her way to Kangaroo Flat’s court in Dower Park.
“Carol Bingham (Karly’s mum) was one of the main reasons I joined Kangaroo Flat,” McGlashan said of the netball coaching doyen.
“Carol had a massive influence on my life, not just in netball.”
An incredible run that McGlashan had with the Roos included seven premierships – six in A-grade, and runner-up for the Betty Thompson Medal as league fairest and best a decade ago.
As a 15-year-old, McGlashan won an A-grade title in her first year with the Kangaroos.
There were 13 grand final appearances, thousands of hours spent training and travelling to matches.
“The friendships are all so special,” McGlashan said of her time in netball.
On-court her game has evolved.
“In my younger days it was all about speed and jump.”
Karly Bingham is a five-time A-grade premiership player with Kangaroo Flat and also won two in A-reserve.
The 300-game players were still going strong across this season.
McGlashan as coach of South Bendigo in A-grade, and Karly in B-grade.
“It was amazing we both played our 300th games on the same day,” McGlashan said of when South Bendigo met Kangaroo Flat at Harry Trott Oval in Kennington.
“Karly and I have had so many great times together.”
A gun mid-courter, Bingham set up so many attacks in the Kangaroos’ run to premiership glory across the years.
“To be awarded life membership is awesome.”
She also spoke of her mum’s incredible devotion to netball which led to being one of the first netball specific BFNL Hall of Fame inductees in 2019.
“Netball has been such a big part of my life,” Karly Bingham said.
“For a medal to be named after mum is so special. It is fantastic the league recognises mum each year.
“Life membership being awarded to me is something she would be super proud about.”
Karly said the 300th game was a special moment across many in her netball journey.
“It’s a day I will always remember.”
Away from the netball court, McGlashan and Bingham are both mums.
They said the support from family was incredibly important and meant they could continue to play and be involved with a sport they love.