A QUEST to be the best netballer she can possibly be has led to Danielle Van Kalken’s return to the Hamilton Kangaroos in a move which has benefitted both the player and the team.

The Kangaroos have been one of the big improvers this season, with the 23-year-old returning to the blue and white after eight years away.

Van Kalken has spent recent years in South Australia, before moving back to the region last year and was immediately in the Roos’ sights for the 2023 Hampden Football Netball League campaign.

“The Sommerville girls have brought me in, I had previous history with some of the other girls at the Magpies previously but being that I lived here and grew up here, it is nice to see those faces again,” she said.

“I have played in Kangaroos colours, I played in 17-and-Unders and also played A1’s.

“Before then, I played out at Branxholme for 15-and-Unders.”

That led to a period of eight years, where she has notched up games at five different clubs, having moved across the border to South Australia with her partner, Sam Tooley.

Job opportunities in Jamestown led the couple to a new state, where Van Kalken took to the court for the local side, before moving to Keith and suiting up for the Crows for two years.

The period coincided with a marked improvement in her game, culminating in selection for South Australian Association Championships.

“My two years there were pretty successful, the first year we lost the grand final, then the second year, which was last year, I only got to play half the season there but was lucky enough for them to welcome me back and I got to play in the grand final and I was lucky enough to play in a win,” Van Kalken said.

“The experience itself within the team and versing amazing netballers over in Adelaide helped me think I could potentially play A grade here in Hamilton.

“I played goal shooter over there and got into the association team over there as well.”

Then once again, employment opportunities led Van Kalken and Tooley to relocate, this time closer to home.

That allowed the goalie to join sisters, Bec and Zoe, at Dartmoor where the trio played together for the second half of last season.

“I am very grateful for Dartmoor to allow me to come in halfway through the year and play with my family out there,” she said.

That experience added some complexity to a decision she inevitably made to try her hand in the Hampden league once again.

It was the personal growth she was seeking, which led to a pre-season with the Kangaroos and eventually moving to the Melville Oval-based club this year.

“I am a family person and love being with my partner and family, but I wanted to see coming back from Adelaide and see where I am at with my netball at the highest possible standard,” Van Kalken said.

“It is something I had to do for myself, and I am enjoying it,”

“Being such a family person, I didn’t really want to be away from them and the travel as well kind of scared me off, but I just wanted to do it for myself.

“I didn’t have too many expectations; I like the unknown and I just take everything in my stride.

“Being in the top grade shows me I have more to learn each game and it just makes me want to play better each week.”

It was a simple chat over coffee which planted the seed for Van Kalken’s move to the Roos, who is playing alongside Hayley Sherlock in goals each week.

“I had a meeting with the Sommerville girls, had a coffee and sat down and they shared what their vision is for the season, and they really showed interest in me being part of that,” she said.

“There were a few messages here and there and a few other girls were excited to see me at pre-season, so that was good.

“Those girls are full of knowledge, and I am blown away by how well everyone is working together.

“The bunch of girls we have are awesome, they reassure you along the way and each of our quarter breaks, they make sure we are all on the same page.

“I love playing with the young’uns and they really bring that energy to the group, Clare and the other experienced players have all that knowledge and so I just pick their brains to try and figure it out as I go.”

The Hamilton Basketball Association has also helped improve her netball, but playing in a different part of the court keeps the 23-year-old on her toes.

“I like playing basketball, I am more of a defender but that is more for my fitness,” she said.

“That is a real outlet for me to get running and keep me fit and the physicality with rebounds and things like that as well.”

As for off the court, Van Kalken is engaged to Tooley and will walk down the aisle in March, with a happy life away from netball helping her take her skills to a new level.

“I am living a pretty high life, I just recently got engaged, so going wedding dress shopping has been good,” she said.

“Work is good, life is good, the partner and his farm are good and so it is going really well.

“I think we are settled in, we are buying a house and Hamilton has always been home for us, so we are back, and we are back for good now and we are excited to see what Hamilton has to offer us after getting married, having kids and things like that.”

It is a far cry from missing out on the Kangaroos junior team, which Van Kalken credits as being one of the key moments in her career.

“When I was playing 15-and-Unders, I missed out on getting into the Kangaroos and Jess Beattie was always a big influence on me,” Van Kalken said.

“I won a best and fairest out there and that kind of pushed me to push harder than I was, and so now I am always pushing for more.

“That was probably the best thing that has happened to me for my netball, not getting in, to know I could do better and that one thing you couldn’t get makes you want it even more.

I just kept pushing, everywhere I have been and every club I’ve been at, they’ve always treated me so well and I think that has helped so much.

“I just say to anyone in the juniors, if anyone has got some knowledge, take it onboard.

“Take the time to listen, because you can do so much with someone else’s knowledge.”