Dan Grida brings the energy to Girls in the Game at Berkeley

13 Oct 2026

1

min read

Dan Grida brings the energy to Girls in the Game at Berkeley
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Girls in the Game returned to Illawarra Sports Stadium in Berkeley on Tuesday 6th October, and Hawks fan favourite Daniel Grida turned up ready to play.

Delivered in partnership with Greater Bank, the two-hour clinic was open to girls aged 5 to 12 at every skill level. Some had never held a basketball. Some play every weekend. From 1:30pm to 3:30pm, they all did the same thing: played.

Dan Grida, Hype Man

Dan came down in a Girls in the Game tee and didn’t stand still all afternoon. He fired up the youngest group before their drills, handed out high-fives down the line and finished with a marker in hand, signing the girls’ shirts.

For plenty of the girls on court, it was the first time they had met a Hawks player up close. For Dan, it was three days out from back-to-back home games against Tasmania and Cairns, and he still made the time to be there.

Three photos from the Girls in the Game clinic: a female coach high-fiving a young girl, Daniel Grida signing a participant’s shirt, and Daniel Grida high-fiving a girl in a Greater Bank shirt.
High-fives on court, signatures to finish. Coach Charlotte Giles, and the Hawks Dan Grida at Girls in the Game.

Coached by Women Who Play

The promise behind Girls in the Game hasn’t changed. Girls only. Female coaches. Built for beginners without boring the girls who already play.

Our coaches worked in small groups all afternoon, so nobody got lost at the back of a line. Every girl had a ball, and the skills went straight into games the same afternoon, which is the part the kids rate highest every time.

‍Watching a five-year-old who walked in nervous leave asking when the next one is, that’s exactly why we run this.”
Maddy Delaney, Community Engagement Coordinator
Three photos from the Girls in the Game clinic: Daniel Grida firing up four young girls, a smiling girl hugging a Hawks basketball beside a coach, and a female coach passing to a girl in a Greater Bank shirt.
Small groups, a ball for every girl, and coaches on court all afternoon: Daniel Grida firing up four young girls, a smiling girl hugging a Hawks basketball beside a coach, and  coach Hannah Campbell passing to a girl in a Greater Bank shirt.

Why We Keep Running It

Basketball doesn’t get talked about as a girls’ sport in this region. That’s the real barrier, and it’s fixable. Every clinic puts more girls on court, more confidence in their hands and more reasons to come back.

Families told us after our July holiday programs that they agreed: 90% said they would come again, and they rated how the day was run 4.7 out of 5.

Want to see Dan in red and black?

The Hawks are back at WIN Entertainment Centre on Thursday 22nd October against the Sydney Kings. ‍

Get Her in the Game

Every player starts with one first shot. Registration details for the next clinic go to the Hawks email list first, so get on it now and she won’t miss out.

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‍Girls in the Game is delivered in partnership with Greater Bank, who back this program because more girls in Illawarra basketball is worth backing.

STRONGER. LOUDER. TOGETHER.

‍

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