But someone forgot to tell two mother-daughter combinations who will go head to head in Saturday's Farrer League netball A-grade game between Coleambally and Temora.

Libby Gillespie, 48, intended to take a year off the game after playing reserves with Leeton-Whitton for several years.

But when 19-year-old daughter Tiah decided to join the Blues, it didn't take much of a prod from Coleambally coach Maddie Mannes to coax her to pull on a bib.

"I don't think it took much convincing to be honest," Libby said.

"You don't come across it a lot where a parent can play with their child, especially at that (first grade) level. It's a privilege to be able to do that.

"It's very special and we do probably play off each other a lot, so that works nicely.

"I was just going to have a year off, but after the first training Tiah attended they asked me to play too.

"It was a really good opportunity to have a season together, because it would probably be our first and last chance."

We have a similar game style and can read each other very well. I can pull rank on the court a little bit when I need to, but it doesn't happen very often."

While the Gillespies are both centre courters, Kathryn and Halle Derrick are at opposite ends of the spectrum for Temora.

Halle has set up an imposing shooting partnership with fellow 14-year-old Abbey Reinhold, while Kathryn is the experienced defender in one of the league's youngest teams.

Kathryn took the last nine years off due to starting a family after rupturing her anterior cruciate ligament.

"It's probably good we're at different ends of the court," Kathryn joked.

"She's experienced a bit of both and is able to play at times in defence, but the shooting role is more suited to her.

"This year Halle's gone into the seniors so I had a chance to come back. I guess you don't get many opportunities like that.

"I had spoken to Jess (Pike, Kangaroos coach) who sent out a bit of an SOS for some experience in the club."

Kathryn said she is still taking time readjusting to playing, especially in first grade.

"There's so many young girls playing this year, I think we've got five new A graders this year and we just needed some experience," she said.

"There's plenty of youth around me but we've got a bit of experience there with Jess and Meg Reinhold and Rach Grant.

"I don't think the game has changed a lot (since I've last played), I've probably just got a lot slower.

"I did my ACL and had our fourth baby and they all started to do junior sport. Family commitments started to take over."

Libby and Tiah Gillespie have played together once before - in a reserve grade match three years ago at Leeton Whitton.

The next week Tiah was promoted to first grade and didn't look back, but three years on they're enjoying a more regular chance.

Libby plays wing attack and Tiah centre, and their already telepathic-like relationship has been a big reason behind the Roos' leap to fifth on the ladder, but equal on points with third-placed Coleambally.

"If I was still playing in Leeton I'd be quite happy to take a step back because the body is feeling it a bit more now. I think this might be my last year playing the higher grade," Libby said.

"We have a similar game style and can read each other very well. I can pull rank on the court a little bit when I need to, but it doesn't happen very often."

Elizabeth still coaches her youngest daughter Bree's under-11 team at Leeton, which remains her top priority but ensures plenty of travel time each week.

"My work as a teacher and having a younger member in the family as well, I have to put their priorities before mine at times," Libby said.

"Coaching my youngest daughter has to be the priority. Maddie was really good with that and working in the fact we do travel.

"There's a lot of getting from one to the other in the car, but that's what you do when you love the sport I suppose."

"I admire women that can still manage to do what they do within their own families, but still make time to take the court.

"You're a long time stopped so whenever I can keep going, I try to."

Tiah is a highly accomplished player after being included in the Southern Sports Academy in 2017, and featuring with the Riverina League's representative team twice, once as captain.

She said playing alongside her mother, while those of most of her teammates watch on courtside, made her understand how rare an opportunity it is.

"It wasn't strange, I've always wanted to do it and like she said it's a privilege, not everyone gets to do it," she said.

"At the start she said she wasn't going to play this season, but she ended up playing because she just can't sit on the sidelines.

"We have our debrief in the car (after games) and let out whatever needs to be let out, then try and work on it the next game."

So what's the best thing about playing with your mum?

"The reassurance, and she's always talking. The encouragement all over the court she gives to everyone, she's like the boss of the team."

Tiah said a change of scenery has helped reinvigorate her game as Coleambally looks to bounce back from a 54-15 belting from unbeaten The Rock-Yerong Creek last week.

"I got a message off the coach (Mannes) saying they'd love to have me over there, and I think a change was a good thing for me this year.

Mannes said Tiah was their initial recruiting target, but adding her mum was a huge bonus.

"They're massive. We originally just aimed for Tiah but Libby turned up to training we twisted her arm a bit to play, which was awesome," Mannes said.

"Their influence on our team is huge. Tiah is very important at centre, she's pretty versatile too and got thrown into GA (for the absent Lauren Pound) last weekend. And Libby's the experienced cool head that everyone needs.

"We always have a bit of a joke about how they argue a bit during the game."

This weekend's game will go a long way to deciding who will press for a top three berth, and the double chance in finals.

"It's definitely do or die this weekend. We probably didn't help ourselves last week. From what I can work out with the ladder, if we lose we'll more than likely finish fourth so we want to finish third definitely."

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WHEN Dane Fuller gazes around the youthful faces in Collingullie-Glenfield Park's reserve grade sheds, he feels every day of his 38 years.

The Demons stalwart is in his 22^nd season and first met many of his teammates when they were youngsters tagging along with dad to training.

"I think I've played with 15 or 16 sons who have also played with their fathers," he said.

"I'd been able to play with their dads when they were toward the end of their careers, then come through and play with their sons as well. It makes me feel very old.

"You sit back in the sheds and think 'I've played a heap of games with your dad, and now I'm playing with you. It's a bizarre feeling."

Dane's son Chad, 17, has been promoted to first grade the past month, the latest high point of a long-standing Fuller family tradition at the club.

Dane's two younger sisters, Jess and Maddie, play lower grade netball for the club, while Maddie also umpires second grade football.

His dad has been president and treasurer of the senior and junior clubs, while him mum has also been on the executive.

"It's something we've always done as a family," he said.

"Now I've got kids coming through the ranks and Chad has spent the last month in first grade, and I'm still trying to have a run in the seconds."

Like many seasoned bush footballers, Fuller has 'retired' several times, but hasn't managed to fully shake off the playing bug.

"There's been lots of times where I thought I was done and dusted and won't play anymore," he said.

"I usually just go to training to keep fit but when the season comes, they're often a bit short and ask if I want a game."

Fuller said he's rapt to still be playing while his son has broken into the top flight, even if he has left him for dust.

"He's enjoying it, I'm very happy to see him get there and he knows what he needs to do," Fuller said.

"He's on the up, and I'm well and truly on the way down. I play forward somewhere where they can hide an old and slow bloke.

"There's not many blokes who get to do it so it's been a happy coincidence."

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