Congupna captain Morgan Zotti shares an insight into what life is like at The Road

Alas, the name is not one you would see on an upscale bistro’s menu, but it does belong to Congupna’s A-grade netball captain, who has become an integral part of The Road’s goal to bounce back to finals in Murray Netball League.

Congupna finished on the edge of the top six in 2023, having lost to eventual premier Tongala in the final round of the home and away season.

The Road was one win and change from playing Rumbalara in an elimination final.

This season, Congupna has been a “nearly there” side, with moments of brilliance, but a lot of inconsistency.

However, one constant for The Road in the past few years has been the star power, work rate and energy of pocket-rocket Zotti.

“I am 5’2’’, so I am a midcourter,” Zotti said with a laugh.

“I don’t really have the option of going in the ring, but I do love the midcourt.

“I love that it is fast-paced and I like that you are always on the go and doing something.

“I would say that is probably my strong point that I can be quite dynamic when I need to be.”

Since joining the club four years ago, Zotti has been nothing short of a star performer for The Road, having finished runner-up in the league’s best-and-fairest award in 2022 and 2023.

For the 2024 season, the gun netballer achieved another highlight in her already glittering career by being made captain of The Road’s A-grade side.

Zotti played her junior (and some senior) netball at Seymour in the Goulburn Valley League before moving to Nagambie, where she won multiple premierships in Kyabram District League.

Although Zotti said she had fond memories from her time at other clubs, the gun midcourter believes she has found a home at Congupna.

“It is a great culture and a great family club,” she said.

“It is a club that you can turn up to on a Saturday or a Thursday night and every single person you see will say hello to you.

“Every single person knows who you are, or if they don’t, they are willing to get to know who you are and they just envelop you into their family.

“I will brag to anyone that it is not like any other club I have been at or experienced; everyone is just welcome and everyone has a contribution and everyone is respected in that way.

“It is awesome.”

Congupna’s reputation as a family and culture-focused club is well-regarded in the region.

But what has created this inviting atmosphere at Congupna Football Netball Club?

A club based in a small regional town, 15 minutes outside of Shepparton, with a population of a tick more than 600.

Zotti believes the answer is simple.

“I think it’s our foundations,” she said.

“We have got the likes of ‘Digga’ and ‘Jules’ Gee (David and Julie-Ann Gee), we have got the Jacobson family, we have Steve and ‘Kaz’ (Allen) in the canteen and in the kitchen.

“Just those really strong foundations who care about the club and it means a lot to them and I think it really shows.

“That rubs off on anyone else who is around; they see how important it is to those people, so it becomes important to everyone else as well.”

In her day-to-day life, Zotti works as a foundation teacher in Shepparton and is also a personal trainer at her local gym.

In addition to these commitments and playing A-grade netball, Zotti spent the 2022-23 seasons as coach of Congupna’s under-17 netball side — a role she loved.

But Zotti’s position as coach was put aside in 2024 after she was appointed captain, a privilege that Zotti said she hadn’t taken for granted.

“It (being captain) has been good,” she said.

“It’s probably come quite natural I would say, as I do feel quite confident in verbalising and sharing with others.

“It has made me think externally beyond myself, so it is not just about how I am playing.

“It (has) always been about the team, but now even more so and how I can help my team to play at their best and perhaps encourage those people who aren’t feeling like they are having their best game; how can I help boost them?”

This season The Road has arguably been best-of-the-rest in the league.

They currently sit in eighth spot on the ladder with three wins from 11 games — four wins outside the top six.

But after snapping a four-game losing streak last weekend against Echuca United, Zotti hopes this return to form will have Congupna firing in the second half of the season.

“We have had a bit of a struggle this year, but we have played all of the top sides and we are one of those teams that we come close so often and haven’t quite hit the mark just yet,” she said.

“We are really hoping in the second half of the year when we get to meet those teams again; we can take what we have learned and apply it and really stick it to them and hopefully get over a couple of them.”

Although The Road's on-court season has been hit-and-miss in 2024, Zotti said the strong off-field connection between the football and netball teams keeps the spirits high at the club.

“We are quite combined (the football and netball teams) and there is a bit of a melting pot,” she said.

“There is a bit of banter that gets thrown back and forth between the footballers and netballers, which is a nice dynamic to have.”

Zotti has no plans of slowing down her netball career as a player, but in the future, when the time comes to hang up the red, white and blue dress, the A-grade captain said she wanted to help support the club and remain active in the community.

To keep up the dedication and hours of hard work that has been poured into the club by the likes of Digga and Jules Gee, Steve and Kaz and the Jacobson family.

“I would love to be part of the community still when I finish up playing, which hopefully isn’t for a little while yet,” she said.

“It is definitely the sort of community that you want to be at.

“I heard someone describe the club as a home, so even if you do decide to go and play somewhere else, you always feel like you can come back and you are always welcome.

“I think that is such a nice concept and place to be a part of.”