For some families, basketball is a weekend activity.
For the Datson family, it’s woven into the fabric of their lives. Jodie Datson tells us how her family has been apart of the association since it’s inception.
For almost 50 years, Diamond Valley Basketball Association (DVBA) has been the backdrop to childhoods, lifelong friendships, family milestones and unforgettable moments. From the very first days of the Association through to the next generation pulling on the Eagles tops today, basketball hasn’t just been something the Datson family has done, it’s been there second home.
Their story begins right at the start.
When the DVBA first opened its doors, Laurie Datson was invited to coach by Jodie’s Uncle Brian (Harvey), who was part of the association’s original management team and instrumental in building the leagues that would become the thriving community they are today. Laurie began coaching representative boys in what he believes was 1976, spending around a decade leading Under 14 and Under 16 Eagles teams. Along the way he coached future Diamond Valley legends including Terry O’Connor, Scott Delzoppo and Craig Sloan, and even found himself coaching against the legendary Lindsay Gaze, with Andrew Gaze, Nigel Purchase and the Melbourne Tigers.
Meanwhile, Vicky Datson (Jodie’s mum), immersed herself in every part of community basketball, playing domestically, coaching, coordinating teams, managing players and eventually becoming a Life Member at Greenhills Basketball Club.
It wasn’t long before basketball became a family tradition.
Jodie and her sister Kylie both came through the DVBA, Eagles representative program before playing their entire junior and senior careers with Greenhills. Kylie went on to represent Victoria Metro, while Jodie has continued giving back through coaching both Greenhills teams and Diamond Valley representative sides.
Their brother Jeremy also proudly represented DVBA as a junior before becoming one of Greenhills’ great servants. Today he is coaching his son’s first representative season, coordinating at Greenhills and remarkably is still running around in Monday night’s Senior Men’s A Grade competition during his 70th season with the club.
Now the next generation is creating its own story.
Jodie’s daughter, Taya Hanan-Datson, progressed through every level of Diamond Valley representative basketball from Under 12s through to Youth League. She now coaches within Diamond Valley’s academy programs while continuing to inspire younger athletes. Her son Zak McLeod currently represents the Eagles, referees and plays domestic basketball for the Sharks, while nephews Logan and Rory Datson have just begun their own representative journeys.
For the Datsons, Diamond Valley has never just been about basketball.
It’s where cousins grew up together. It’s where lifelong friendships were formed. It’s where children became adults before returning to watch their own children do exactly the same.
“We’ve been coming to DV since we could crawl,” Jodie laughs.
School holidays weren’t spent looking for something to do, they were spent at the stadium (and causing a bit of mischief). With Uncle Brian running the venue, the cousins would spend entire days playing basketball, squash and table tennis, running from court to court before eventually helping out themselves. Jodie completed work experience at the front desk, worked in the canteen and coached school holiday camps, some of which were led by none other than Brian Goorjian.
Walking back through the doors today still feels exactly the same.
“It always feels like home. So many memories growing up, and every week we still get to see all our friends in one place.”
That sense of belonging has shaped generations of the family both on and off the court.
Playing basketball has taught Jodie and her family, life long lessons, “Although we’re all super competitive,” Jodie laughs, “basketball has taught our family that success isn’t just measured by wins and losses, but by commitment, dedication and supporting one another.”
Those lessons have influenced not only the way they approach sport, but also their careers, and the way they continue to give back to their community.
And there have certainly been plenty of unforgettable moments along the way.
Jodie still remembers scoring 63 points on the old Court 1 (today’s Court 5), coaching an Under 14 Eagles girls team to a National Junior Classic bronze medal, making Victorian Metro teams, playing in the WNBL and ultimately representing Australia with the Opals. She fondly recalls that those achievements were never hers alone. The entire Diamond Valley community celebrated every milestone. Even fierce rivals became lifelong supporters. Rosanna East’s Mike and Lorraine Kapnoulos were among Jodie’s biggest cheerleaders. Lorraine made bloomers for girls across the Association in every club colour and never missed an opportunity to send congratulations whenever Jodie made another representative team. When Jodie was living in Townsville after earning her first Opals selection, a congratulatory card still arrived in the mail.
It’s a small gesture, but one that perfectly captures what makes Diamond Valley different.
It’s community over competition.
It’s families celebrating each other’s successes regardless of the colour of the uniform.
Laurie’s own highlights include helping Diamond Valley win one of its first Under 20 Men’s State Championships and participating in both the original and recent Legends Games, whilst Jeremy, continues to build his own remarkable legacy as Greenhills’ longest-serving player.
Jodie credits Uncle Brian with helping establish the legacy that continues to bring families together today, while Laurie reflects on the enormous contribution of pioneers Margaret O’Connor and Wilma Hayes, whose dedication helped build the strong community that generations have since enjoyed.
Their impact continues to be felt every time another family walks through the doors.
When asked what they would say to someone considering joining DVBA, the answer comes easily, “It really is a great community. The support is incredible, the coaching infrastructure is strong, and the pathways continue to grow. It’s an exciting place to be.”
After nearly five decades, countless games, hundreds of teammates and friends, and now four generations wearing the colours, one thing has never changed.
DVBA has always been much more than a club.
As Jodie sums it up perfectly:
“DV is more than a club to our family – it’s our second home, where lifelong friendships have been made, values have been learned, and memories have been created together.”
