For players like fellow Pride shooter Georgia Cann, the news that Ballarat Pride will be part of the incoming Victorian Netball League has opened a whole new ball game.

Pride players gathered on Monday night to celebrate Pride's successful bid to join the restructured Netball Victoria state league competition next season.

Talk was of relief, excitement and a quick drink to wash away fears that Pride's campaign could have all been over.

Just 10 licences were up for grabs with a three-year expiry date, while 18 clubs are playing under the existing format.

Pride must field three teams in the competition _ championship, division one and a youth 19-under squad.

A berth in the championship division has eluded Pride, which has challenged once for the division since joining state league in 1995.

Expanding Pride has been something Emma Farrell has wanted to do since returning from her foray into the championship division with Melbourne clubs.

Farrell left the club she joined as a 16-year-old to try her luck in the elite grade after leaving school.

What she experienced opened her eyes to Ballarat's potential and last year Farrell was a key driver in Pride's bid to add a division two team.

While the bid failed, Farrell remained a strong supporter for the need to keep state league netball in Ballarat as a pathway for the region's talented players.

"Those Melbourne clubs with more than one team had a real strength and we needed another team to build on what we had," Farrell said.

"The hardest call I had to make was to ring Dashie (Pride coach Jo Dash) and tell her I wanted to try championship division and having to go away from Ballarat to do that.

"For other players coming through the Pride ranks now, it's just fantastic.

"The 19-under division will be a real stepping stone for our juniors, too.

"They'll be able to practise, work and build on their skills against elite competition their own age ... and we've got some fantastic juniors."

Current Pride players Georgia Cann, Libby Purtell and Johanna Dash worked their way into the line-up serving an apprenticeship on the bench, a process rookie centre-courter Meg Gilbert is working through this season.

Cann has stepped up in her third state league season to cement a spot in a powerful goaling rotation with Farrell and Sue Nalder.

She was thrilled with the prospect of playing in Ballarat's first championship division team.

"It's pretty much a level under the trans-Tasman competition and that's just huge, you can't put a value on that," Cann said.

"It was daunting to think Pride could have all been over.

"I've had three really great years.

"Everything has started going right and it's a really good relief.

"Our team is not just a sport, we play with friends, good friends."

Players are now determined to prove they are worth a spot in the VNL, starting with an elusive division one premiership.