Sport
16 January, 2026
SUMMER READING Flag comparisons
How many netball flags match a footy pennant? The Postles (try to) answer the question
By GARY WALSH
THE GREAT double act of Wedderburn sport, Adam and Maddi Postle, are arguing about whether a footy flag is worth more than a netball title.
“A football premiership is obviously worth twice what a netball premiership is,” Adam (five flags) says.
“You told me it was worth three times,” Maddi (11 A-Grade titles) replies.
Happy with what he sees as something of a victory, Adam – ‘Pos’ to all and sundry – quickly decides to move the conversation on.
Pos and Maddi are constantly teasing each other, an affectionate bickering – not quite finishing each other’s sentences, but more interjecting to throw in a barb or two.
Like when Adam describes Maddi, a star goal defence, as “a Clydesdale – a workhorse” on the netball court.
It’s something Maddi is happy to lean into.
“My sister Sophie was always a goal keeper – she was tall and lanky, and I was the Clydesdale build.”
Or when Maddi is talking about injuries and her fortunate lack of them, apart from a broken foot in her first game back after the birth of her first child.
“Weight-bearing injury,” says Pos, presumably from a safe distance.
Their sporting careers are the stuff of legend in Wedderburn.
Adam has never played football with a club other than the Redbacks, and last year appeared in his 300th senior game.
He started in the seniors at 18, and now at 41 he is getting ready to go around again.
“When (coach) Tom (Metherell) rang me in July – July is the worst month in footy, honestly,” Pos says.
“It’s wet, it’s cold, the days are miserable, it’s dark, you’re sore.
“When you ring someone in July, it’s like ‘Nah, that’s it’.
“But when spring rolls around and you stop playing footy for a few weeks, you forget about all that.”
Like Maddi, he has been largely injury free, apart from a staph infection picked up playing at Birchip in 2024.
He says he woke up on the morning of Wedderburn’s first final against Donald with his knee swollen and sore.
“Maddi said, ‘You’ll be right, just have a couple of Voltarens and you will be fine’.
“I ended up in hospital for a week. It was a bit of a balls up really.”
Pos notes that he spent much of that week with a swab up his nose, as medicos searched for the source of the infection.
And he has, it must be admitted, a prominent proboscis.
“There would have been plenty up my nose, Maddi just said.”
Ruckman and occasional full-back Adam finished runner-up in the Wedderburn best-and-fairest award in 2017 and was placed fourth in the competition’s Feeny Medal in 2010.
As for summer, he didn’t take up competitive cricket until 2013: “We won a grand final in my first year – I thought, this is easy.
“We’ve lost about six since,” he says with a laugh.
Still opening the bowling for Wedderburn Band, his best return is seven wickets in an innings, and he has made a few fifties as a late-order batsman capable of holding up an end or slogging.
Maddi played one season of cricket in 2019 in the Bendigo league, finishing the season with wickets from her final two balls – robbed of a hat-trick by stumps being drawn.
“I keep waiting for Wedderburn Band to give me a call up,” she says.
“I mention it every time I’m down there and nobody says anything.”
Maddi is a Holt – every second person is Wedderburn is a Holt or a Lockhart – so she is local royalty.
“It’s a pretty tight-knit community, so you have to be careful who you date,” she says with a laugh.
“We don’t like to look into it too deeply.”
Netball remains Maddi’s first love – with 11 premierships, a league B&F in 2014 as well as being three times runner up and twice third, including this year, it’s understandable why.
Throw in 10 times winner or runner up in the Redback best-and-fairest and it’s a record that will stand the test of time, although her focus is firmly on team, rather than individual success.
At just 31 – Pos reckons she’s got 20 years in her, given that netball is such an easy game – she dreams of playing with one of her daughters.
Marigold is five, and if she starts playing seniors at the same age as her mum – 15 – they’ll be on the court together in a decade’s time.
Tennis is Maddi’s winter sport, playing pennant with Wedderburn Junction, although she also plays basketball at Charlton. “Dad was a good tennis player,” Maddi says.
“I think he’s disappointed that I haven’t fulfilled my genetic potential.”
Occasionally Pos will fill in at the tennis when cricket has a bye.
Adam says he’s “average” at tennis; Maddi says he is “handy” in a rare moment of admiration.
Back on the subject of the relative worth of premierships, Pos has had another thought.
“There’s three times as many players in footy, so …”
And then he folds.
“That’s about it – I haven’t got much to be honest with you.”
And he folds again.
“Netball has always been the backbone of the club.
“I love that we have something to celebrate at the end of every season – they’re phenomenal,” said the Redbacks’ veteran of more than 300 senior games.