Sport
13 June, 2025
Dunolly trio reach landmark games
Dunolly A grade netballers Melanie Schodde, Chloe Goodwin, and Ashlee Lierich are being celebrated for their loyalty and dedication to their club, with Schodde recently bringing up her 200th game while Goodwin and Lierich are set to play their 200th and 300th game respectively.
Reaching her milestone in the Eagles’ round six match against the Maryborough Giants, Schodde has been a staple of Dunolly’s A grade team since moving to the club in 2008.
Winning back-to-back premierships in her first two seasons, Schodde has also excelled off the court, taking on virtually every role you can think of including coach, umpire, and administrator, earning herself a life membership.
Reflecting on her milestone match, Schodde said those individual accolades are secondary to the importance of playing netball for her beloved Dunolly.
“I love the club and I love the atmosphere around Dunolly,” she said.
“I came not really knowing anyone and everyone just welcomed me in which was really good and I’ve made some really good friends here.
“I would love for my kids to play here, so you volunteer and do these things to keep the club going so they have a good experience.
“It’s just nice to still be involved and be able to play, one day I would hopefully play alongside my kids but we will see how we go.”
Schodde was originally going to share her 200th game with Lierich’s 300th game, but after being forced to miss multiple games, Lierich will reach the triple century when the Eagles take on Campbells Creek.
Few resumes stack up with Lierich’s during her time at Dunolly, a three-time league best and fairest, two-time A Grade premiership player, including being named best on ground in the 2008 grand final and MCDFNL interleague player.
Lierich has also been a coach, umpire and committee member, including being club president in 2019 and 2020 and has also been awarded a life membership.
Lierich said she hasn’t thought about her 300th game, more excited about being able to still play netball after two decades at the club.
“I’m more just thinking about getting back out on the court again, milestones are great but as Melanie said I think it’s just really good to play with friends and be around the club for so long,” she said.
“The girls all get along and it’s very welcoming — everybody at the club including everyone in football and netball is very inclusive which is really nice.
“We had a few functions this year and there’s lots of new faces and everybody’s mixing so it does feel like a club atmosphere.
“People say ‘do you want to go play and try somewhere else’ but the club sort of feels like home, it’s just a place you enjoy coming to on a Thursday and a Saturday, there’s lots of laughs.”
While you usually picture 200 and 300-game milestones with club stalwarts like Schodde and Lierich, youngster Chloe Goodwin has burst her way to 200 games and will celebrate her milestone alongside Lierich.
Joining the club in 2015, Goodwin has been one of the Eagles’ most promising netballers since making her A grade debut in 2022 with her ability to play in defence and attack.
With Schodde and Lierich mentoring her journey in senior netball, Goodwin has also assisted with off-the-field duties.
While she anxiously awaits her 200th game, Goodwin said she’s thankful for the people who have allowed her to reach this milestone.
“I’m a little more nervous than excited to be honest, but hopefully we can get a win,” she said.
“Since I’ve only just been up to seniors, all the senior coaches have been fantastic in letting me play up to get to 200 games.”
Dunolly has also celebrated a host of 100-game milestones recently across football and netball, with Ricky McMahon, Hannah Freemantle, Brianna Lovel, Tania Coombes and Melanie Schodde all reaching a century of games.