Tracey Dark celebrates her 450th game for Stawell Warriors on Saturday

Reflecting on a career, on the eve of her milestone 450^th netball game for the Stawell Warriors, Dark brushes off the accolade saying she just feels fortunate that she is able to continue to play a sport she loves.

For Dark, sport isn't just about what it does physically on the court, but it's what it can do off the court as well which makes a difference.

"It's character building and it teaches people how to control how they react to certain situations," the player, former coach, umpire, trainer and mentor said.

"People say it's unreal to reach that milestone but I just think it's not really - I'm just playing netball. I'm not doing anything special, I'm not going out and saving the world - all I'm doing is fronting up and committing to my team and club each and every week."

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"Trying to calculate how many games of netball Dark has played in her career she said she wouldn't be able to put a number on it.

"I played 12 seasons at Rupanyup and two a Buningyong before I came to Stawell in 1993," she said.

"Tony's (husband) sister played at Stawell so that's how I ended up here.

"I played a few part seasons when I had Jackson (son) but have been lucky enough to get through most seasons unscathed.

"I feel so grateful to be able to get this far - I've seen some horrendous injuries over the years which are so cruel."

A question Dark was faced with when the sport was cancelled in 2020 was how many years did she think she would continue to play.

"I could have never retired on the COVID-19 year," she said.

"In saying that I was really ready to go at the start of 2020 and had done a lot of gym work. I was probably the fittest I had been for awhile. We played some practise matches and came off the court feeling so good.

"I was pumped and ready to go. I kept that up so felt good coming into this year.

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"It's something I've always maintained. I don't have a preseason as such, because I just don't stop. I feel if I was to stop it would be too hard to get going again for the season."

Dark, at 55, said one of her proudest moments was making her 200 game milestone - selflessly not for her own accolade but because her father was a member of the 200 club as well.

"I always admired him for that," she said. "Once the Wimmera league opened it up to netball I always thought it would be awesome."

Not many mothers get the opportunity to play with their daughters but Dark says playing with daughter Ash was some of her most memorable years in the sport.

"We played for a couple of seasons and won a B Grade premiership together," she said.

"That's pretty special. Many players play for years and never get a premiership but to win one with your daughter is just amazing and I feel so lucky I had the opportunity to do that."

And her advice for up and coming players striving for a long career in the sport?

"I've always maintained the mindset that I need to step up and meet the expectations to earn my spot in a team and on the court," she said. "I never expect just because I've been somewhere for a while it doesn't mean I don't need to earn the respect of the people around them.

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"If you put in the work, you will get rewarded. In saying that I've always been one to let others go ahead of me. Attitude is a big part of the sport and how you wear and your reactions determine your character."

Dark said she was grateful for the opportunity for a long career both on and off the court.

"I find it enjoyable watching players you've been involved with or watched coming through the junior ranks and playing a great game of netball in senior grades," she said. "I love that. I'm lucky to be able to play with some awesome players who I coached or watched as junior and you could see they were going to be great players."

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