Tallygaroopna’s Fiona Down set to break the 400 club game barrier for the Redlegs

Hell, the insidious disease even tried three times.

But when Down, a revered netball name at Tallygaroopna Football Netball Club, completes her 400th club game this Saturday, no matter the result, she’s already won.

Since 2001, the Redlegs icon has clinched seven premierships as a player, won three club best-and-fairests, coached, developed and has only ever taken time off for two reasons: to have her three children and to fight breast cancer.

Down has recently rallied back from her third battle with the disease, and with family, friends and netball serving as her rock, the Tallygaroopna doyenne has a new lease on life every time she takes to the court.

“It keeps me busy, it's something I love, it gave me an out,” she said.

“It gave me time to switch off from all my medical health focuses, and I could just focus on something that I enjoyed, aside from being with my family and friends.

“It gave me, to some extent, a purpose.

“I'm pretty stubborn at times too, so I was like, this is not going to beat me, this is not going to stop me from playing netball.”

It’s safe to say Down plays life — and netball — on her own terms.

And given her record, she plays both pretty damn well.

She began her netball journey at the Shepparton Netball Association and ended up at Tallygaroopna by following her husband, Colin, to the club.

Family drew her to the Redlegs.

Family is the reason why she’s stayed.

Twenty-four years later, Down remains an integral cog in the Tallygaroopna netball machine, and while she’s still got plenty of gas in the tank, seeing the young Redlegs’ luminaries start to shine is giving her a fresh love within the sport.

“We’re very focused on supporting our young little humans coming through as well, so it's been really nice to see them grow,” she said.

“When I first came out to Tally there were not a lot of little kiddies running around, and as we've progressed, you only look at our juniors now and we're starting to see them come through our ranks in the senior grades so that's really exciting.”

It’s not just a booming junior program and a homely feel that have kept Down tethered to Tallygaroopna for two and a half decades.

The Redlegs are a good netball team. Frighteningly good.

“I can't recall a time when the club hasn't had a netball team in finals, so that's probably another thing that draws people out or keeps people there, is certainly the club success we've had,” she said.

“But the community is amazing, it's so supportive — they rally around everybody through high times and low times, and I think that's what keeps people there.”

Down has had her fair share of highs and lows during her netball career.

Through each soaring peak and valley trough has been a Tallygaroopna shoulder to hug or cry on, and that was never truer at the conclusion of the 2022 season — for all the right reasons.

“The one (moment) that probably really sticks out to me is the 2022 A-grade premiership that we won, which was the second for the club,” Down said.

“We won that in torrential rain against Dookie.

“To coach and play in that as well as be involved in that team with a couple of friends who I've had playing privileges throughout my career with in A and B-grades, that was pretty special.”

Currently sitting fifth, Tallygaroopna’s A-grade side is poised to make another finals cameo in 2025.

Down will bring up her 400th against an unbeaten Shepparton East side — a battle she is eagerly awaiting — and she’ll be trying her utmost to mark the day with a big green tick.

Tallygaroopna’s fifth all-time record netball game holder, super-centre, coaching extraordinaire and forever helping hand is a living Redlegs legend, and upon reflection of 399 games played with guile and gusto, Down only had one thing left to say.

Thanks.

“I’d like to thank my family and friends for being around for all those games,” she said.

“Most of them have been there at all those games - my kids have grown up around the netball court, and they're loving netball too.

“It's been so nice to have some real supportive family and friends, husband and kids.”