Sport
13 June, 2025
Boag steps up her game
Swifts netballer Kathryn Boag has improved in leaps and bounds over the last 24 months. For someone that was intimidated by A-grade, in her first complete season, not only is she making the midcourt her own, but was voted by her peers to be captain.
Boag has played all her netball at Swifts, and in juniors predominantly played in the goal ring. After developing more in B-Grade last year, Boag found confidence in herself to take on A-Grade and is having a sensational season.
“I refused to play A-grade as it intimidated me,” Boag recalled.
“Having Kristy Dodds and Amy Kenny coach me in B-grade last year helped me personally and I have grown a lot since I stepped into senior ranks.”
The players voted anonymously on their A-grade captain this season and Boag was shocked when she was nominated by her peers.
“I had no idea it was coming and at the presentation night, it was announced, and I was in shock,” Boag said.
“It’s a pretty big deal that the girls put their faith in me.”
Boag has improved as the season has gone on.
“I have improved personally on being more confident on the court and am putting my body on the line rather than running away from the ball,” Boag said.
“Personally, this is the best season I have had confidence-wise and as a team, more importantly, I think we are killing it.
“We are fourth on the ladder and it’s the best season that A-grade has had in a long time.”
Asked what the highlight of her career was, Boag said it was all about friendships.
“I am still chasing a premiership, so to get one will be lovely, but the highlight of my career is the new friendships I have made over the years,” Boag said.
“It’s a close-knit community and I love meeting new people.”
Boag’s father, Paul, has been a coach all her life and has coached at Swifts, and Boag has followed in his footsteps taking up coaching in the 15-and-under.
“It’s my first year of coaching and the girls are going well,” Boag said.
“I was highly encouraged by the netballers to take up coaching as I was helping behind the scenes and I bit the bullet and did it.
“My dad has been coaching ever since I have been playing, so to coach as well is pretty special.”
When Boag asked what she loved about coaching, she put it simply, “Helping kids grow.”
“I like seeing kids grow and learning new things,” Boag said.
“They are always asking questions, and I love guiding them to help bring out the best in them.
“I would love to stay coaching juniors as I have a lot to teach them and being quite young myself, I can relate to them.”
A-grade coaches, Amy Kenny and Kristy Dodds commended Boag on her development and attitude.
“Kat has been very consistent and has developed into a thinking netballer rather than a reactive one,” Amy Kenny said.
“She has improved her game to reflect what it is – semi-contact and she has adapted to that and that is something she previously wasn’t comfortable with.
“She is particularly good at outsmarting players and strategically thinks and methodically plays on the court now as opposed to chasing the ball. She creates screens, sets players up and that’s a credit to her and her development.”
“Kat has also been working on personal goals such as fitness, and that was outstanding in the off-season,” Kristy Dodds said.
“Her match fitness was never a doubt, it was her on-court gameplay that has been impressive with consistency, and that is because she worked hard on match fitness.
“The players were impressed with what she was doing, and they all nominated her as captain and that speaks for itself.”
When asked how they helped Boag through her doubts to play A-grade, Dodds said that she and Amy focus on breaking down barriers individually.
“Once you get through those barriers, it helps connect everything and that’s something we have been working on over the last few years,” Dodds said.
“Kat’s confidence in her ability has grown. She played her juniors as a goaler and now plays midcourt, and it goes back to the development of thinking.”
Read More: Stawell