It was an emotional end to the Western Warriors season with inaugural player and captain Kim Borger playing her final game in the Victorian Netball League.
One of the star shooters of the competition, Borger has had an impact across a number of clubs.
Having been part of the Hunter Jaguars squad and then the New South Wales Swifts, Borger made the move to Victoria in 2016 as an injury replacement for the Melbourne Vixens.
It’s when she first stepped into the VNL, with the Monash Storm and then when it became the Hawks winning the Marg Caldow medal as the best player in the competition in 2018.
A successful stint in the United Kingdom with Bath then called before returning to the VNL in 2023 with the City West Falcons.
That time was limited with Borger earning another call up to the Vixens as a replacement player. Borger was part of the Falcons premiership that year.
She would then move to the Warriors and help establish the club in Melbourne’s west.
Borger said it was a pretty emotional moment with her career coming to an end.
“It was really lovely,” she said after her final game. “It was a bit of an emotional check and I had to sort of reel it in at the start of the game, I was a bit emotional.
“I even got nervous which is a bit unusual for me. Usually get on and get the job done, and go from there.
“It’s nice to be supported and loved.”
Borger said coming back to the VNL after her professional career was over had been a real full circle for her.
She said finishing her career in the western suburbs was pretty special.
“I’ve always lived in the west when I’ve lived in Melbourne,” she said. “It’s nice to give back to my western suburbs community and actually not have to travel too far for training for once in my life.
“I used to travel six hours one way for training, 15 minutes has been dream”
Borger said the biggest thing out of her time in the VNL had been the amazing teammates that had turned into friends.
She said the connection with coaches, like Warriors coach Kim Bailey, was also pretty special.
Bailey was full of praise for her star shooter and what she had done for the club.
“She is really such an important part of our club,” she said.
“The leadership that she brings and the experience and the advice she has given to all the players has been invaluable.
“We’ll really miss her. She’s not going to get off that easy, we’re not going to let her get away.
“She’ll still be here in some sort of capacity, really whatever she wants to do.
“I’m really proud of Kim. The loyalty that she has shown to me and the club.”
Borger won’t be lost to netball.
She’ll continue to coach in her many capacities across the western suburbs and continue to be around netball, just not on a VNL court.
“I love being able to give back to the community, particularly ones that don’t always have the luxury of getting those coachings.
“Being a country girl I like to give back to those sorts of areas.”
