Netballer Isabelle Shearer signed as training partner with Qld Firebirds

Isabelle Shearer says she is “so happy, so nervous, but so excited” about the latest development in her impressive netball career.

Netballer Isabelle Shearer is “stoked” to have been signed as a training parnter with the Queensland Firebirds in 2023.

Rockhampton netballer Isabelle Shearer was reduced to tears after learning she had been signed with the Queensland Firebirds as a training partner for 2023.

“I’m stoked to have got this opportunity,” the 19-year-old said.

“I got a call on Friday that I’d got training partner and I walked back into work crying.

“I’m so happy, so nervous, but so excited.

“It’s awesome... something I’ve always wanted in my career and I was kind of hoping it would happen for me but I don’t know if I was expecting it.”

Shearer had her first training run with the Firebirds on Monday.

She said she was looking to “soak it all in” and learn from senior players such as Kim Ravaillion and Gabi Simpson, who she has looked up to since she was a kid.

Shearer’s achievements earned her a place on our list of Central Queensland’s 21 leading women of sport.

A gifted defender, she started netball at age seven alongside her twin sister Katelyn.

Isabelle Shearer launches into action for The Cathedral College in the Rockhampton and District Secondary Schools Netball competition.

Shearer played club netball with Frenchville, working through the ranks from Minis to Junior A1 and making her Senior A debut at 14.

She starred for The Cathedral College in school competitions such as QISSN and the Vicki Wilson Cup.

She made the Queensland schoolgirls under-15 team in 2017, and rep honours would continue to come her way with selection in state and national under-17 and under-19 squads.

After graduating in 2020, Shearer moved to Brisbane where she has continued to take great strides in her playing career.

Her partnership with the Firebirds caps what has been an incredible 12 months, which included being part of the Queensland Sapphires squad at the Australian Netball Championships in August.

“It’s been a crazy year,” Shearer said.

Isabelle Shearer has taken a huge stride forward in her netball career.

“I had 19s nationals, where I came in as an injury replacement for that, and then I was an injury replacement player for ANC as well.”

Shearer was also part of the QUT Netball team which finished as runners-up in the 2022 HART Sapphire Series and will play for the Carina Leagues Club Tigers in this year’s competition.

Firebirds’ head coach Bec Bulley was thrilled to be in a position to offer the training partner opportunity to another young Queensland talent.

“Isabelle has come through the Queensland state program and been nationally talent identified throughout those years,” Bulley said.

“She’s a homegrown product from a regional area of our state and it’s fantastic to have her given the chance to take her game to the next level with us over the next few months.”

Shearer certainly has her hands full.

She is a full-time student, having recently completed her second year of a four-year double Bachelors degree in Behavioural Science and Justice at QUT on a sports scholarship, and she also works part-time.