Michelle den Dekker , also known as Michelle Fielke, is an Australian netballer from South Australia. den Dekker represented Australia in 84 tests between 1988 and 1995, including a record 71 as

captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...

. She received the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in 1992.

Netball career

Life member of the

Garville Netball Club Garville Netball Club are an Australian netball team based in Woodville, Adelaide, South Australia. Their senior team currently plays in the Netball South Australia Premier League. During the 1990s they played at a national level, representing ...

from 1989 to 1995 and helping the club clinch five premierships in 1989, 1991, 1992, 1994 and 1995. In the national league, den Dekker was captain-coach of the Queensland Firebirds in 1997-98 before returning home to the now defunct

Adelaide Ravens Adelaide Ravens were an Australian netball team that, together with Adelaide Thunderbirds, represented Netball South Australia in the Commonwealth Bank Trophy league. In 1997 Ravens were founder members of the league. In 1999 they were grand fi ...

. den Dekker made her Australian debut in 1985, and led Australian to two world championships as captain (1991 and 1995). Michelle played a total of 84 test matches for Australia between 1985 and 1995, including 71 as captain. As captain her team enjoyed a win loss ratio of 92% (65 wins, 6 losses). den Dekker was voted as Adelaide's greatest netballer to have fronted for the Adelaide Thunderbirds or Adelaide Ravens. She was inducted into the Australian Netball Hall of Fame in 2009.

Coaching career

den Dekker OAM was appointed Head Coach of Netball Australia’s new Centre of Excellence in Canberra in April 2014. den Dekker was the Diamonds Assistant coach for the

Australian Netball Diamonds The Australia national netball team, also known as the Australian Diamonds, represent Netball Australia in international netball tournaments such as the INF Netball World Cup, the Commonwealth Games, the Constellation Cup, the Netball Quad Ser ...

until August 2015 (the

2015 Netball World Cup The Netball World Cup Sydney 2015 (NWC2015) was the 14th edition of the INF Netball World Cup, the premier competition in international netball. It was held from 7–16 August, in Sydney, Australia, which secured hosting rights after defeating ...

). Currently still works as a consultant for Netball Australia as a Defence Specialist coach and manages her own Netball consultancy business working to develop our next generation of players and coaches in South Australia

Awards

* Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in 1992 * SA Great Award, for services to sport in South Australia in 1993. * Inducted into the

Australian Netball Hall of Fame The Australian Netball Hall of Fame was established by Netball Australia in 2008 in Australia, 2008. The inaugural inductees included Margaret Caldow, Anne Sargeant, Vicki Wilson and Joyce Brown (netball), Joyce Brown. Athlete members The foll ...

2009 * Inducted into the Inaugural South Australian Hall Of Fame 2010 * Ambassador for the SA Sports Hall Of Fame alongside Legend

Barrie Robran Barrie Charles Robran MBE (born 25 September 1947 in Whyalla, South Australia) is a former Australian rules footballer who represented in the South Australian National Football League (SANFL) from 1967 to 1980. He won South Australian footbal ...

AM. * Inducted into

Sport Australia Hall of Fame The Sport Australia Hall of Fame was established on 10 December 1985 to recognise the achievements of Australian sportsmen and sportswomen. The inaugural induction included 120 members with Sir Don Bradman as the first inductee and Dawn Fraser th ...

in 2020.

References

External sources

Michelle de Dekker

Netball Australia
{{DEFAULTSORT:den Dekker, Michelle Living people 1966 births Australia international netball players Netball players at the 1989 World Games Netball players at the 1993 World Games Netball players at the 1985 World Games Australian netball coaches Adelaide Thunderbirds coaches Queensland Firebirds players Netball players from South Australia Australian Institute of Sport netball coaches Adelaide Ravens players ANZ Championship coaches Contax Netball Club players Garville Netball Club players Esso/Mobil Superleague players South Australia state netball league players Sport Australia Hall of Fame inductees 1991 World Netball Championships players 1995 World Netball Championships players