2025 National Netball Championships: The state switch that didn’t come easy for South Australia’s Charlotte Walker

After a blistering performance for Tasmania at last year’s national championships earned her a spot at the Thunderbirds, Charlotte Walker will be hoping to do the same for South Australia in 2025.

While the pull of representing her home state one final time was strong, South Australia’s Charlotte Walker admits taking away a spot from a deserving Tasmanian player wouldn’t have sat right with her.

A home-grown Burnie talent, a town some 300km north-west of Hobart, Walker now calls the City of Churches home after she was plucked from the Netball Tasmania pathways system by the Adelaide Thunderbirds as a training partner in October last year.

And while she may be gearing up for her first season in the Thunderbirds reserves program, she’s also set to suit up for South Australia as a member of the 19/U’s side at the 2025 National Netball Championships.

KommunityTV will once again bring you all the action from Sydney’s Netball Central from April 10-16 with Walker and her new teammates set to kick off their campaign against host state and defending champions New South Wales.

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With both states sharing two titles across the last four years, the round 1 matchup shapes as a potential grand final preview.

After a star-making performance at last year’s championships, Walker shapes as a crucial key to SA’s chances of adding a fourth 19/U’s title to its trophy cabinet.

But while Tasmania’s loss is South Australia’s gain, the decision to switch allegiances wasn’t one that came easy for the teenager.

“It was a very interesting and tough decision to make,” Walker said.

“As much as it would have been nice to finish my last year of nationals for Tasmania, I wouldn’t be able to fly back every week and train. So it’s probably not fair to take away a spot from someone that can commit to that.

“It really didn’t come easy (the decision). But I just thought there’s no point turning up in Sydney after not doing any training with the girls. That’s probably not fair on the girls or myself.

“But I’m super keen to see all girls and coaches and play against them and do my best for South Australia.”

Charlotte Walker will line-up for South Australia at the National Netball Championships before she returns to the Adelaide Thunderbirds as a training partner. Picture: David Bellamy

A former apprentice carpenter, Walker downed tools back in October and now some six months on believes she’s starting to feel comfortable at the level.

And while the goals of one day playing for the Thunderbirds in the Super Netball league has equally grown, she’s focused on putting her best foot forward in Sydney.

“It’s been great, very welcoming. All the girls have been so lovely, so I’ve been enjoying it,” she said.

“I definitely think the last month or two in particular that my development has really come on. The coaches in Tasmania put a lot of time into me and I think that made for an easy transition to come over here and just amplify that.

“I haven’t really thought about what’s to come in the next few years. I’m just really focused on doing my best at the national championships and then continuing that for the Thunderbirds reserves side.”

Originally published as 2025 National Netball Championships: The state switch that didn’t come easy for South Australia’s Charlotte Walker