Sport
1 August, 2025
Avoca FNC life member Lucy Howell hits landmark achievement in stellar career
“She’s just invaluable, and I think we need more people like Lucy around the club. That’s how local country clubs stay afloat and stay successful.”
While most players hope to reach significant milestones like 50, 100, or even 200 games for their beloved local club, Avoca Football Netball Club legend Lucy Howell has smashed those milestones and then some, recently playing her 450th game for the Bulldogs and showing no signs of slowing down.
With family connections to the club before she ever donned the blue and red, Howell joined Avoca’s netball program in 1999 and has been a staple of the club ever since.
Her latest achievement came last Saturday, playing a key role in the Bulldogs remaining undefeated in A grade in 2025 with a win over finals contender Talbot.
“All games are exciting, but I think I’ve got a bit of a challenge this year because I’m playing wing defence, which is a new position for me,” Howell said.
“It’s a great club to be around, playing with your friends.
“I’ve got two little boys now, and I think it’s good to keep playing and show them that it’s good to be involved in the club.”
Her 450th game is another achievement in a storied career for Howell, a three-time junior club best and fairest, three-time A grade club best and fairest, including MCDFNL best and fairest in 2009, junior premiership player in the Lexton Plains FNL, and a six-time MCDFNL A grade premiership player.
That includes being a key cog in Avoca’s recent dominance in A grade netball, a team which has won three premierships since 2019 and claimed the minor premiership in the COVID-shortened 2021 season.
For Howell, those team achievements always stand out when looking back on her career.
“My first memories are playing in back-to-back premierships with my school friends as a junior. Over the years, a few of my friends have come and gone and come back again, so it’s been nice to play with them,” she said.
“I think I have got 10 premier-ships over my time, they are always good memories, probably one of the best was in 2019, I was pregnant with my first child, it was nice to win a premiership with him inside.”
No one knows the impact Howell can have quite like Avoca A grade player/co-coach Maddy Egan, who said Howell doesn’t just impact a game with her deft passing in the midcourt.
“It’s phenomenal that she’s played this many games and is still going and doesn’t even look like stopping,” she said.
“She tried to step down to B grade this year, and I said no, you have got the brains, she’s just so smart with everything.
“When we were losing the Natte Bealiba game this year, she pulled us aside at half time and said ‘we can do this, I have faith’, she knows how to get around the team and pump everyone up, and she’s a great role model for our juniors.
“She just loves netball and the club, she tries to get everyone involved, keep the club going and tries to make one big club between the junior and senior netballers.”
Howell’s impact isn’t just felt on the court, starting with the under 14s, Howell has coached virtually every level of local netball and has also taken on several administration roles at the club.
Her outstanding contributions were recognised when she received a Life Membership in 2015, contributions that continue to this day.
“Our family has always been involved, my dad and mum have been volunteers over the time we have been there, all my siblings have been really involved in the club — you do what you have to do to keep the club going,” Howell said.
“It’s great there’s somewhere for kids to go outside of school, and even for adults with the increased mental health load around all communities.
“Community clubs, whether that be football and netball or something else in the town, are always really important to these country towns.”
After over a quarter-century of service, Howell knows her playing career is slowly winding down.
While she’s excited to continue her off-court duties, Howell intends to extend her playing career for a little while longer.
“I think so, potentially not in A grade, I’m getting up there in age and getting a bit slower, but I definitely want to keep playing,” she said.
“My passion is coaching, I really enjoy it, I’ve probably coached as many as I’ve played now, I enjoy playing, but giving that knowledge to other people is always nice.”