Eastwood-Ryde netballer Georgia Marshall selected for Netball NSW Waratahs 2017 squad

Eastwood-Ryde’s Georgia Marshall looking forward to Australian Netball League return

Georgia Marshall from Eastwood-Ryde Netball Association has been named in the NSW Waratahs squad for the 2017 Australian Netball League season. Pictures: Adam Ward

Although she’s still a relatively new face around the Eastwood-Ryde Netball Association, Georgia Marshall took no time in making an impact.

Originally from Penrith, Georgia (pictured) joined the association’s Hawks Opens squad in last year’s Samsung Premier League in to plenty of fanfare.

When she arrived at the club at just 23 years old, she was already a two-time state representative, having played for the NSW U/21 side in 2015 and the Netball NSW Blues in the now-defunct Australian Netball League in 2013.

After a standout and consistent season with the Hawks’ Opens squad in the Premier League, Georgia was rewarded with a return to the elite level of the sport after being named in the NSW Waratahs side for the upcoming ANL season.

Although she’s been making representative teams since she was 11, Georgia said she still gets “a little bit excited” whenever she gets the call.

Georgia has already represented NSW multiple times and says she’s looking forward to the challenge of the ANL competition.

“I really enjoyed last year with the Hawks, it was great to be given that opportunity and lots of support and encouragement,” the midcourter said.

“We started training in mid-December and it’s been great meeting the rest of the team, we’re all getting along really well.

“It’s been a great experience to get to train with players that also play at that elite level.”

While its easy for athletes in Georgia’s situation to let their egos get in the way, she believes her success will stem from keeping grounded.

“At this level, stuff like playing for the Swifts and Australia is definitely in the back of everyone’s mind but at the moment I’m just focused on playing my best at this level.

Georgia said that one of the main keys to keeping a level-head is to still allow herself to get starstruck.

“There’s a lot of players, (Australian representatives) Sharni Layton and Kimberlee Green in particular, that I still just find myself looking at in awe.”