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Michelle Tanner has played her 300th game for Bonnie Doon.
On Saturday 9th August, Michelle’s milestone was celebrated with a large gathering of netballers, footballers and supporters, reflecting Michelle's importance to the club and the broader community.
Her husband, Tim, and mum, Ev, held the banner while her best friend, Leith, spoke about Michelle's time spent committed to Bonnie Doon before Michelle's daughter Mia said a few words.
She was presented with a bunch of flowers by her son, Zac, and slab of coke from close friend and teammate, Chrissy.
The epitome of a team-player, Michelle isn't one for accolades or attention but the club couldn’t let this milestone go unnoticed.
Mich, Mish, Mishka, Tanner, Chell, Shelley, The Matriarch, The Goat.
Michelle became a Bomber over 20 years ago and has given most (if not all) of her adult life to the club.
And the club has benefitted from her dedication in every way imaginable.
She is not just a player.
She's a coach, a committee member, a club life member, a mentor, a mum, a wife, a daughter and a friend.
From bottom of the ladder to the top and everywhere in between.
Different positions, different leagues, different uniforms, and different grades, Michelle has been a part of it all.
On the court, she has been on the receiving end of some whopping losses over the years which is why she works so hard for our current players to be the best they can be, so they don’t have to go through the tough times she has experienced.
But no matter the score line, Michelle will always keep pushing and encouraging and putting those goals up!
There aren’t many goal shooters in the league up at the line talking, directing and encouraging when the ball is way down the other end.
She is relentless.
She leads by example and her presence is felt.
She has won many awards and trophies; too many to list but her achievements are endless with numerous premierships under her belt and MVP awards.
She has come back from serious injury and never missed a beat.
Hard work and dedication is second to none with her netball brain never turning off and her drive to inspire others always in the forefront.
She has high expectations of herself and can be her own worst critic, but the way she can deliver an on court performance week after week plus coach multiple teams’ season after season is a special skill and one that not many would be capable of doing.
She is one of a kind.
As a player It was as a long time in between flags.
From 2009 when she played GK & won Best On (with a sore foot that ended up being broken) to 2022 where she was a playing coach in B-Reserve.
And then there are the premierships she has coached with the obvious highlights being the clubs first ever OKFNL trophy in 2017 with the U17’s and then of course the history making A Grade win last year, with her daughter Mia Tanner starring in both.
As Head Coach, she guided all 5 netball teams into the Grand Final in 2024.
Another history making moment not only for our club but for the OKFNL.
From the start of game day to right to the end, she is courtside then rushes over to the footy to watch her Zaccy boy play Seniors.
Michelle is the heart and soul of the netball department who presence is felt both on and off the court.
She can deliver a message without speaking and her passion is real.
Michelle works tirelessly not only for the netballers but for the entire Bonnie Doon Football Netball Club and they are forever grateful of her contribution over the years.
Congratulations Michelle.





