Stanhope Football Netball Club president Kara Canny had a busy season as not only the leader of the executive committee, but also captain of the C-grade team and coach of the 11 and Under netball team.
Growing up with five brothers was a solid grounding for Kara Canny to become not only the Kyabram district league’s only female club president, but also a highly successful and competitive netballer.
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Four of the six Canny siblings were involved in grand finals on Saturday at Mooroopna, but it was only Kara who walked away with any silver as her team completed back-to-back premierships in the C-grade competition.
The 39-year-old was on court at the same time as three of her five brothers were playing in the reserve grade football grand final.
Matt, Brad and Josh, all her ‘little’ brothers, were part of the fairytale story that was the team’s rise from fifth on the ladder to a spot in the grand final.
Unfortunately, for Stanhope and the Canny family at least, the unbeaten Murchison-Toolamba team was one step too far.
Brad, Matt and Josh Canny share a moment before Saturday’s Kyabram district league reserve grade grand final at Mooroopna.
Kara Canny took over the club presidency after being Jason Leocata’s understudy in 2023. Taking on the top job had been made easier by years on the committee and a formidable reputation on the netball court.
“I was Jason's wing woman, which lead into stepping into the role as president this year. I learnt from the best so it was a smooth transition into the role,” she said.
“The club hasn’t had a female president before, so it was a bit of history.”
As if the presidency isn’t enough, she is also coaching netball and playing, captaining the C-grade team to a second successive title on Saturday.
Only 100m or so away, on the Mooroopna Recreation Reserve, Matt (37, who travels from Melbourne to play), Brad (31) and Josh (29) were doing their best to continue Stanhope’s amazing record in the competition.
On Saturday the club also won the 17 & Under premiership and had been a staple in netball and football finals since joining the KDL from the Heathcote league in 1995.
As if four Cannys were not enough, on the sidelines were parents Penny and Paul, another brother, Justin (34), came from Melbourne for the event, sisters in law Grace (Josh’s wife) and Sally (eldest brother Joel's wife), Brad’s partner, Laura, and nieces Emma, Madi (Joel's daughter) and Addy (Brad's girl).
At the Stanhope Lions’ Father’s Day event are Paul and four of his six children, Matt, Kara, Josh and Brad Canny.
“Our gran and pa (Val and Hugh Smith) were big supporters of all our sport right up until the end. We lost Gran in 2022, but Pa continued to watch,” Kara said.
“Unfortunately, he passed away just before the finals last year, so it was a bittersweet premiership for me in 2023 since he missed it. They would have been tickled pink with four of their grandchildren playing in grand finals this weekend, especially with the three boys in the same team.”
Growing up on a dairy farm has instilled a great work ethic in the siblings and aside from Kara’s role with the Active Energy Group there is a school assistant principal, a farmer, an electrician, a construction worker and a draftsman in the family.
And it will not be the final generation involved in sport at Stanhope, Kara having coached nieces Emma (12) and Madi (10) in the 11 and Under competition this year.
Addy is just two and Brad and partner Laura are expecting another little netballer next month.
They have big shoes to fill, as the achievements of their aunty alone are head-spinning — a league and club best-and-fairest winner and the 2022 Butch Auld senior clubperson of the year.
Josh Canny kicked two goals in the losing grand final team on Saturday, but was one of the reasons the team made it so far into the finals.
Kara is a former Haslem St and Ky High student, who now has three premierships among her swag of achievements, two with Stanhope and a third from 2004 when she played at Girgarre.
Of her brothers, she said debate and competitiveness remained intense on a number of fronts.
So, who considers themself the best footballer?
“If you ask each of them, they will tell you they are the best player,” Kara said.
“Matt has the best kick, but has no running ability. Brad’s best on both sides of the body, but loves to look for a free kick. Josh goes in the hardest, but has been known to give away a few free kicks.
“They are all trained in jiu-jitsu/MMA, which makes Christmas interesting. They all like to think they are the fastest, so it’s not uncommon when they are all together to have a race in the backyard or the paddock to see who still has it and takes the bragging rights.”
As for the club role, she said she still felt she had something to contribute and had recently been included in a leadership program to hone her skills.
“I was part of the AFL Play Your Way program, for female leaders in football. It consisted of webinars and a face-to-face session, which was held at Marvel Stadium,” Kara said.
“It was highly rewarding and inspiring, especially hearing from keynote female speakers who have made their way into the AFL and leadership roles. I believe it has helped me within the role as president.”
Despite all the demands placed on her, there is still a freshness and spark in both her smile and tone while talking about the Lions — anyone who caught a glimpse of the now ritualistic picture of the premiership team in the canola field on Saturday will testify to that.
