FROM TRUSTED COACH TO CONVICTED PREDATOR: MELBOURNE MAN ADMITS CHILD S3-X OFFENCES AFTER VANISHING WITHOUT WARNING
A prominent former Victorian community netball coach has admitted to serious sex crimes against children as details of his offending were laid bare in court.
Darren Adam Abela, 50, pleaded guilty at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Friday to multiple counts of committing an indecent act with a child.
Abela, who has more than three decades’ experience coaching female netball teams, committed the offences in Melbourne’s west more than a decade ago.
He also pleaded guilty to sexually penetrating a child over 10 but under the age of 16, which allegedly occurred in another suburb in Melbourne’s west.
Abela additionally pleaded guilty to sexual penetration of a 16-year-old under his care, supervision or authority.
The court heard vile details that Abela kissed, ‘grinded’ and masturbated in the presence of a child.
Victoria Police sex crime detectives had charged Abela with the historical child sex offences on October 10 last year.
Abela appeared forlorn in court, dressed in a plain white shirt and black trousers. His hair was combed flat, a stark departure from the rooster style for which he is known.
Darren Adam Abela was briefly appointed coach of the Melton Bloods netball team
Before his downfall, the experienced coach had helmed various Victorian teams, including leading the Westside Saints Netball Club for 27 years.
The Westside Saints, which are the representative team of the St Albans Caroline Springs Netball Association (SACSNA), offered Abela a social media tribute when he departed his role in 2021.
There is no suggestion that the Saints were aware of his offending at the time.
‘Darren, along with his dedicated coaching team, have grown and developed Westside into one of the most desirable and successful clubs in our area,’ a Facebook post says.
‘His guidance and mentorship has helped many, past and present players, to progress their pathways through elite levels.
‘Enabling opportunities to be selected into Academies, VNL [Victorian Netball League], ANL, state and international teams.
‘All of us at SACSNA and Westside would like to thank Darren for his years of dedication and coaching expertise.
‘He will be sincerely missed and we wish him well on his next journey.’
Abela, 50, pleaded guilty at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Friday to multiple counts of committing an indecent act with a child
One parent whose child played for the Saints previously told the Mail of his anger at SACSNA for not addressing the charges against Abela.
The only club to publicly acknowledge the charges is the Bloods, for whom Abela coached briefly before his tenure ended abruptly last year.
Prior to Abela pleading guilty on Friday to seven offences, Netball Victoria had said in a statement: ‘We are unable to comment on police matters while they are before the courts.
‘We understand that these matters are distressing to members of the netball community who are impacted and continue to offer them our fullest support.
‘Once these matters are finalised, Netball Victoria will complete its own reviews as part of ongoing work to ensure that our safety policies and procedures are appropriate and being stringently applied across all competitions.’
After leaving the Saints, Abela was appointed as a coach of the Bloods netball team at the Melton Football Netball Club, but was suddenly replaced just weeks before the 2025 season commenced in May.
Melton FNC issued a statement about Abela’s charges a week after the Mail received no response to our questions regarding the former coach.
The club explained in a Facebook post that Abela became ‘uncontactable’ in February 2025.
About a month later, Netball Victoria advised Melton FNC that it had learned Abela was under investigation and not permitted to coach.
‘Our club is aware of the recent media reports concerning a former coach and the serious allegations that have been reported,’ the club stated in its June 7 post.
‘We understand this news is deeply concerning for our players, families, volunteers and broader community. The safety, wellbeing and protection of all participants – especially our young people – remains our highest priority.’
The club also outlined the process of how Abela was able to join its ranks.
It claimed Abela presented a ‘highly experienced’ résumé and was ‘well-regarded by some of our players through previous representative netball connections’.
The netball department recommended the appointment, the statement said, and Abela was hired in mid-October 2024 as a match-day coach.
The club stated that Abela, who had previously faced 19 charges, only had contact with players during two trial sessions at MacPherson Park held in January last year.
‘No complaints were received regarding his conduct, and committee members present noted the sessions were conducted professionally,’ it said.
Abela, of Hopetoun Park, a suburb near Bacchus Marsh in the state’s west, will face a pre-sentence hearing at the County Court at a later date.
SOURCE: https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-15967129/darren-adam-abela-guilty-netball-coach-child-sex-charges.html
