Oh captain my captain: Dylan Nexhip, pictured here playing for Victoria, has been named captain of the Australian men’s netball team. Photo: PowerShots Photography
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Dylan Nexhip’s love of netball began watching his mum Glenys play for Tongala, and now that dedication will see the former Blues A-grade coach lead Australia into the 2022-23 international men’s netball season.
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Nexhip received the tap on the shoulder on Sunday and, following the announcement of his captaincy by the Australian Men's and Mixed Netball Association, Nexhip said it was an honour to lead his country.
“It’s a huge achievement for me personally and I’m really excited,” Nexhip said.
“I’m looking forward to seeing what we can do with the team. We’ve got our tours coming up which will be an opportunity for us to put it all out there.”
Nexhip will lead Australia’s campaign in New Zealand with a curtain-raiser on October 12 to the Diamonds and Silver Ferns Trans-Tasman Series opener.
The two nations will then face off at John Cain Arena in Melbourne on October 19 before welcoming England on October 30.
Nexhip assumes the role at a crucial time for netball, explaining it’s an important series for Australia as the men’s netball pathways continue to find a foothold.
“We’ve never had an international tour like this ever, where there’s been both the men and women’s team travelling together and playing at the same stadium,” he said.
“It’s groundbreaking in terms of netball as a platform. We want to make sure we’re promoting men’s netball and showing that it is a dual sport that can be played at the elite level.”
Nexhip, now based in Sydney, has enjoyed mixed netball success at state level with Victoria and NSW before earning a national call-up alongside brother Corey.
Brothers Dylan and Corey Nexhip in 2017 following their Australian mixed netball title were selected for the Australian team promptly thereafter.
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Nexhip was appointed Tongala’s A-grade mentor in 2013, leading the side to two Murray Netball League grand finals.
With one of the most sought-after netball brains in the local game, Nexhip moved across to the Goulburn Valley League to lead Benalla and Shepparton Swans before helping guide the GVL open netball side to an interleague title in 2019.
From the grassroots game to leading to the international stage, Nexhip outlined his journey through netball.
“I started back when I was little in Tongala. Mum was still playing and the club was still in the GVL,” Nexhip said.
“I jumped in a car on a Thursday night and went to training with Mum, had a run around the court and hoped I could jump in and do a bit of half-court and some drills.
“It evolved from there when I was eight. I started playing when I was 10 on Saturday mornings in the Kyabram Netball Association.
“I had to stop after the age of 12 because of the age limit. There were no pathways for boys to play after that point. I played football for Tonny until I was 21.”
Nexhip then dropped his football endeavours to pursue coaching, but on the court he cites a former Tongala champion as someone he modelled his game off.
“When I was little and still going to the footy on the weekends, I was still able to watch a lot of netball,” Nexhip said.
“Tongala were always really strong. Alicia White (nee Brennan) was at her prime. I used to watch her and be in awe of the way she played.
“I’ve modelled lots of my game off her and the way she went about it. I’m a defender, similar to her. From there I developed a pretty good netball brain, and it’s got me to where I am now.”
That netball nous has been highly sought after since he relocated and NSW premier netball club North Shore United has managed to secure the services of the Aussie captain.
