‘Not guaranteed a spot’: Netball Queensland star opens up on missing AIS selection, kick for stellar nationals campaign

Eighteen-year-old netball sensation Jayden Molo admits missing out on selection into the 2023 AIS squad served as much needed motivation to work harder. Twelve months later, the teen has ticked off another goal in her netball career. Read her story here:

Eighteen-year-old netball sensation Jayden Molo admits missing out on selection into the 2023 AIS squad served as motivation to kick into gear.

After 12 long months of hard work and determination, she has found herself back on the squad list – one of 24 players selected across the country.

In her third and final campaign, Molo who is niece of NRL stars Francis and Micheal Molo, received the call she’d been hoping for after a successful National Netball Championships campaign held in Victoria in April.

“I feel like I really did put in a lot of work after missing out last year.

“I slacked off I guess after a year of making it, but you’re not guaranteed a spot every year,” she said.

“I wasn’t too sure what was going to happen but I’m really happy to be named again.”

Molo’s Queensland under-19s side finished up with a silver medal after losing to border rivals New South Wales in the grand final.

NNC under-19s, Jayden Molo (QLD) playing WA. Photo: Joanna Margiolis

“I really enjoyed nationals, it was a good last competition to play in,” Molo said.

“I felt really honoured and quite proud to play for Queensland, especially being picked now as a top age.

“I was very grateful for the opportunity, given and the bunch of girls I was with.”

Playing alongside the likes of Queensland Firebirds training partner Sasha-May Flegler, Molo said it was an honour to don the maroon dress in her final year.

“The selections were hard going into it this year because there were so many girls that were very talented,” she said.

In 2023, the side finished fifth – giving this year’s silver medal even more meaning for the players and coaches involved.

“It was the best nationals for us as a team, and a good last one to finish on for me personally.

“I was so proud of the girls.

“It was a bummer not to finish on a win, but we’re obviously very happy with silver.

“Our coaching team were so great and really helped with preparation, getting us physically ready and mentally ready.”

Jayden Molo has been selected to represent the Australian U17 team (2022). Photo: Supplied

Molo pointed to head coach Rebecca Stower and assistant Amanda Kelly for their coaching and mentoring of the squad throughout preparation and the competition.

“Bec and Amanda are great coaches, but also great people to have outside of netball.”

Despite the end result, it wasn’t all smooth sailing.

Two weeks out from the competition, star midcourter Bailey Boyd was forced to withdraw due to injury and Suncorp Super Netball duties.

She was replaced by training partner Dakota Newson – who had initially missed selection for the first time in her NNC career.

“There wasn’t any big shift in the team, and we really welcomed her (Newson) in with wide arms once Bailey told us she couldn’t play,” Molo said.

“We were all really supportive of Bailey and understood how hard it would have been for her.

“She was happy that the player coming in could handle nationals and the pressure.”

Newson’s previous experience with the squad and at national level made the transition easy.

“Leading up we all trained together, we’ve been playing for years with each other and had that experience.”

Jayden Molo (red C) playing for the Brisbane North Cougars Sapphire Series (Ruby) side, 2023

Midway through the tournament Molo admits the side were stressed about their position on the ladder, sitting fifth after four games.

“We didn't know if we would make the final four,” Molo said.

“We got a big motivational talk from Bec before the South Australia game, because we knew we had to win that.

“We just set out just basic goals and were encouraging each other the whole game no matter what happened.

“I think it really shifted from there and we went into every game after that with a pretty strong mindset which helped us get to the grand final,” she said.

With NNC behind her, Molo will travel to the AIS in July to participate in the annual training camp alongside her fellow selectees.

The opportunity is one she treasures, with the goal of one day pulling on a SSN dress.

Australian 19/U National Squad

Nicola Barge – NSW

Georgie Cleaver – WA

Holly Comyns – QLD

Jada Delaney – QLD

Aitaua Enari – WA

Sasha-May Flegler – QLD

Harriet Gall – VIC

Lily Graham – VIC

Alice Henman – ACT

Gemma Hutchings – QLD

Brooke Irlam – SA

Scarlet Jauncey – WA

Mia Lavis – VIC

Eugenie Little – NSW

Nevaeh Matenga – NSW

Eliza Molino – VIC

Jayden Molo – QLD

Paige O’Neill – TAS

Monika ‘Otai – NSW

Tabitha Packer – SA

Charisse Rond – WA

Frederika Schneideman – NSW

Poppy Scholz – SA

Hannah Torsney – NT

Kaylin van Greunen – QLD

Lucy Voyvodic – SA

Charlotte Walker – TAS

Tara Watson – VIC

Hope White – NSW

Grace Whyte – NSW

National Netball Championships, 2024

Australian 17/U National Squad

Mia Aitken – VIC

Teagan Begovic – WA

Simone Botha – QLD

Sophie Brewer – TAS

Marley Burns – QLD

Kate Cunningham – WA

Allie Davidson – VIC

Hannah Eastick – NT

Winnie Evans – NT

Amalani Fauonuku – VIC

Anna Goad – SA

Ellie Hart – NSW

Charli Hazelhurst – SA

Harlym Jennings – NSW

Tahlia Jolly – SA

Charlotte Jonsen – QLD

Jemma Kelly – SA

Ciarn MacBride – QLD

Sophia Martinussen – ACT

Jazmin McKay – SA

Tia Molo – QLD

Elouise Nordhausen – SA

Alice O’Callaghan – VIC

Mackenzie O’Dwyer – VIC

Kelis Ogle – NSW

Matilda Percival – NSW

Halle Richards – WA

Emily Rivers – WA

Eva Ryan – VIC

Isabella Sherriff – TAS

Leila Simpson – VIC

Summer Smith – SA

Ebony Stewart – WA

Skye Thompson – NSW

Ashley Weller – ACT

Clara Wigley – WA

Originally published as ‘Not guaranteed a spot’: Netball Queensland star opens up on missing AIS selection, kick for stellar nationals campaign