Rockhampton’s Isabelle Shearer plays full game in Firebirds’ emotional win over Fever
An ardent supporter of the Queensland Firebirds as a child, Isabelle Shearer is now playing with them. She talks about her most recent outing with the elite club and why it was so special.
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Growing up in Rockhampton, keen young netballer Isabelle Shearer collected posters of her favourite Firebirds’ players.
Fast forward to 2024 and the now 21-year-old is playing alongside some of the revered figures whose images once adorned her bedroom walls.
It’s a dream come true for the 189cm goal keeper, who is playing her first season with the Firebirds in the Suncorp Super Netball series.
She signed with the club as a training partner last year, saying at the time she was eager to learn from senior players such as team captain Kim Ravaillion, who she’s looked up to since she was a kid.
She said it was ”so surreal” to now be taking to the court alongside them as one of the 10 contracted players for the season.
“I’ve always been a Firebirds’ fan so to be able to play for my team is just insane,” she said.
“I’ve just really been enjoying this first year.”
That enjoyment reached a new high when Shearer got the news she would be starting in the team’s Round 11 fixture against the highly fancied West Coast Fever last Sunday.
She has made four previous appearances, coming on from the bench, but this would be her first inclusion in the starting seven.
It could not have been scripted any better for the mobile defender as the Firebirds went on to secure an emotional 78-80 victory, just their third of the season.
“It was really special,” Shearer said.
“It was the first game I’ve started, the first time I’ve played the full 60 minutes and my first game at home at Brisbane’s Nissan Arena.
“At the final buzzer there was lots of emotion… and the crowd was jumping.”
Shearer was matched up against Fever superstar Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard, who is considered one of the best shooters in the game.
But that did not faze her as she produced a memorable performance, which included several crucial rebounds in the closing stages.
“That was such a cool opportunity to grab with both hands, and it was really exciting to play against someone of that stature,” she said.
Shearer’s phone lit up after the game as she received countless messages of congratulations from people in Rockhampton, where she started playing at age seven with Frenchville.
“I’m really grateful to have played all my junior netball in Rocky,” she said.
“Obviously, coming through the rep pathways as a teenager there was a lot of travel involved but I think that was all part of the journey for me.
“I really appreciate all the people in Rocky who supported me at the time and continue to support me.”
A graduate from The Cathedral College, Shearer has a demanding schedule in Brisbane.
As well as her training and playing commitments, she is studying a double degree part-time at QUT.
“It’s pretty full-on but it’s so worth it,” she said.
“I’ve learnt so much and grown so much and I just want to keep getting out on the court when I get the chance and give it everything I can.
“It’s just been such an amazing experience this year - and I can’t wait for it to continue.”
FIRST LOOK: The Capras U17, U19s fighting for Round 1 starts in trials
The Capras under-17 and under-19 boys and girls teams will take on the Mackay Cutters in their first pre-season trials at Rockhampton’s Rugby Park. Check out the squad lists here.
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