Live stream: Players to watch at the Netball Australia National Netball Championships
Future Diamonds will shine on the court at the National Netball Championships. Find out which players you should be keeping an eye on during the week-long tournament.
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Future Super Netballers and Diamonds will shimmer under the bright lights of Frankston’s Jubilee Park Stadium next week.
But only the best players can hoist the National Netball Championships shield at the end of a huge week of netball action.
The tournament, which will be exclusively live streamed on KommunityTV and across News Corp Australia’s digital mastheads, has a proven track record of producing top talents.
FIND OUT HOW YOU CAN WATCH THE NATIONAL NETBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS LIVE
Super Netball guns Cara Koenen (QLD), Kate Moloney (VIC) and Courtney Bruce (WA) have all progressed through the NNC and onto the big stage.
But a new crop of talents will have their shot to make their mark on the national stage, check out 40 top talents to watch out for below.
NORTHERN TERRITORY
Kiera Heffernan – Queensland-based NT talent Kiera Heffernan has turned heads throughout her time in the pathway, being selected into the 2024 U19 Australian squad following a stellar start to 2023 at NNC. She is a classy mover and fierce competitor in the midcourt. Heffernan’s speed in transition makes her a vital part of the Northern Territory’s attack and defence.
Tully Bethune - A versatile GS/ GA, Bethune is a Victorian-based import for NT this year. She was initially left to deal with the disappointment after missing out on Victorian state selection, but was delighted to be offered a position elsewhere. Lining up for the NT’s under-19 squad, she will get her NNC wish after all. Bethune is buoyed by a return to nationals, where she played last year as part of Victoria’s 17-and-under team, but admits not being able to train regularly with her teammates had been difficult. Fortunately, a much needed training camp in Darwin last month left Bethune feeling more assured in the team’s prospects, as well as her attacking third which features the likes of Isabelle Ross, Ava Moller (a NSW import) and Charlotte Hateley.
TASMANIA
Ellie Marshall: Marshall returns for her second year in the under-19s and will Co-Captain the team with Ava Lockwood-Roden. She had a great NNC campaign in 2023, running through C and WD and being rewarded with categorisation to the AIS squad by Netball Australia. Marshall is a proven competitor with a hard one-on-one defensive style. She has improved her speed, endurance and game over the last 12 months to step up and help lead the team this year.
Eunice Kidmas: A relative newcomer to the pathway program last year, Kidmas punched above her height in the GK and GD role, recording the highest gained possessions of our team for the week. This year she moves further up the court into a WD / C role and her defensive pressure, closing speed and reach will be one to watch throughout the week.
Paige O’Neil: Another AIS categorised athlete from Tasmania’s 2023 team, O’Neil has been elevated to the under-19s age group after a stellar year on the court. The defensive star has continued to improve her game in the role of GD/WD, switching from shutting down her opponent to hedging and hunting for the intercept. A natural reader of the game with good pace and elevation, Tasmania’s coaching panel expect O’Neil to feature highly in gained possession next week.
Sophie Brewer: Captain of the team and returning for her second year of under-17s, Brewer is a strong shooter with good speed and a smooth shot. Her accuracy is a huge strength and she is set to lead by example both on and off the court.
Molly Green: Leader of the defensive end, Green is a talented circle defender who likes to attack the ball. She reads the play well and looks to shut down her opponents with strength and speed. Green has the courage to come off her opponent and execute intercepts.
The mid court (Olivia Bender, Matilda Kaye): It will be interesting to watch the midcourt develop throughout the week. The pod is made up of first-year under-17s but are full of elite experience and talent. They offer plenty of pace and clean ball handling, along with a hardworking attitude in defence to shut down their opponents.
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Defensive duo (Jemma Kelly and Jaz McKay): McKay is the daughter of inaugural Adelaide Thunderbird Sarah Sutter. The duo have great game intelligence, footwork and an uncanny ability to read the play.
Tabitha Packer: Packer is athletic hard worker who is driven by turnover stats.
Lucy Voyvodic: Calm in a crisis with the ball in-hand, Voyvodic can be relied on to force possession turnovers when games are tight and the pressure is high.
Samaya Oakley: An emerging tall goal shooter who has a natural shot and feel for the circle. Oakley relocated to South Australia from Queensland during her 2023 campaign, making this her first season in new colours.
AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY
Sophia M, Ash Weller, and Tessa Griffin: This trio will be one (or three) to watch at the upcoming championships. They bring with them valuable experience from 2023 and have been exemplary leaders both on and off the court. All three are returning athletes.
Kaylah Upfield - She is a dynamic GA/WA whose court craft and speed makes her challenging for any opponent. Upfield returns to the ACT under-19s team for a second year, looking to capitalise on last year’s experience.
Alice Henman - Henman is an athletic WD/C who continues to grow with every campaign and opportunity. Progressing up from two campaigns in ACT under-17s, she will look to use her experience, voice, footwork and ability to win ball and shut down opponents while leading the mid court.
Elise Robinson - Our most experienced campaigner, Robinson is a strong and physical defender who is smart at creating and taking intercept opportunities. Her voice drives the ACT team from the back and directs players across the court.
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Clara Wigley – Western Australia’s 2023 captain returns to the side after representing Australia at the 2023 Commonwealth Youth Games and winning Gold. Showing composure and maturity beyond her years, Wigley will again be hard to contain for any opponent.
Halle Richard – This versatile, tall shooter will look to implement all her learnings and development on court after a strong 2023 NNC and under-17s Australian squad selection. Growing in confidence with every experience, she is ready to take on all defenders on the national stage.
Kate Cunningham – A strong pre-season on and off the court has led Cunningham to develop her toolkit across the defensive unit. With her ability to win ball, she will look to lead the defence end.
Georgie Cleaver – Cleaver returns to the side after representing Australia at the 2023 Commonwealth Youth Games and winning Gold. She is a competitive beast and will again be hard to contain for any opponent she matches up against.
Scarlet Jauncey – Jancey has been working incredibility hard on and off the court in the off season to gain experience at training in the West Coast Fever environment as an invitee.
Maya Kenny – A hard working centre court player who can run all day is looking to have a strong performance at 2024 NNC. Kenny will look to use her skills across both attack and defence to connect the team through the midcourt.
VICTORIA
Eva Ryan – A regional player hailing from the far west of Victoria, Ryan has come through Netball Victoria’s Talent Academy (Western) program, and has already shown great commitment being a part of the inaugural Elevate Program. This is her first position in a state team and she’s ready to show just how far she has come.
Amalani Fauonuku – Fresh off the back of captaining an undefeated Victorian schoolgirls team to gold last year and selected as an All Australian, Fauonuka steps up into the under-17s team as a bottom ager. But don’t let her age fool you, she already has experience under her belt after a season in the Victorian Netball League.cLani is another product of Netball Victoria’s Talent Academy (Central West) pathway as well as a vibrant member of the new Elevate Program.
Piuti Laban – A returning member of the under-17s team, Laban has numerous accolades to her name that would make you think she has been playing for decades. A former Victorian schoolgirls captain, she has also been selected as an All Australian as well as being identified as the player of the tournament. Piuti also has experience playing in the Victorian Netball League and as a member of the Elevate Program.
Lily Graham – Graham’s game keeps growing from strength to strength. Fresh off her ANC debut in 2023 where she clearly held her own and provided some great variety in attack, she is looking like a shooter that can do the same in this team. Her story is one of persistence and determination. Graham has taken her opportunity as a training partner as top age in under-17s and made her way into the team due to a withdrawal of a player.
Tara Watson – Another player that has kept pushing and driving herself, Watson was plucked out of a screening day process for state trials and is now a consistent team member in our state programs. She is a tenacious midcourter who is taking her game to the next level, able to play all three midcourt positions. Watson is a leader in the way she plays.
Eliza Mooney – A newcomer to a state team and country athlete that puts in a round trip of seven hours just to attend training. She is a tall athlete who can play both ends but has been selected as a defender. With a lean that goes forever, Mooney will cause some issues for goalers on the shot.
Mia Aiken - Aitken didn’t expect to be handed leadership duties for Victoria ahead of next week’s Championships, but that isn’t stopping the Geelong teenager from making the most of the opportunity. She is aspiring to help her teammates keep their ‘heads in the game’ during the intense six-day tournament, and believes last year’s bronze medal loss will be a motivating factor for Victoria to push for the podium.
QUEENSLAND
Talitah Faifai - Faifai is one of the Gold Coast Titan’s youngest stars and is returning to the NNC stage after a successful 2023 campaign. She was pivotal in the Under-19s campaign as a bottom-age athlete and continued in top form through Queensland’s HART Sapphire Series. To top off her 2023 season, Faifai was named in the Firebirds Futures ANC squad.
Sasha-May Flegler - Netball-come softball star Sasha-May Flegler is an unsurprising name to watch. Flegler offers speed and agility through the mid court and has consistently been a key talent of North Queensland at every chance. She recently relocated to the southeast and now plays for Bond University.
Holly Comyns - Tall timber Comyns has risen through the ranks since 2021, being named in the 2022 under-17 state squad followed by the AIS Academy in 2023. At 6’2, Comyns is strong under the post but can move out to the GD position when needed.
Leilani Fatialofa - A Western Districts prodigy of Queensland’s southeast, Fatialofa made herself known on the court last year with a stunning four days of consistent play at state titles. She is a versatile GK/ GD who can shut down an attacker before they reach the circle. Fatialofa’s defensive style is reminiscent of past Queensland representative Mia Baker, with the same long reach and vertical that will get her far.
Ava Guthrie - The daughter of former Firebird Leanne Guthrie (née Matthews), Ava Guthrie shone in the centre court at state titles. She put on a spectacle of speed and smarts which earned her a spot in the Queensland squad.
Roxanne Rhind - Rhind displayed huge improvements to her game throughout 2023. Being top-age in 2023 will play in Rhind’s favour as she sits in a prime position to shine at this year’s NNC.
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Originally published as Live stream: Players to watch at the Netball Australia National Netball Championships
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