Woman of the Year finalist, Thunderbirds netballer Georgie Horjus’s full circle moment

Georgie Horjus was a kid cheering on her favourite team to a premiership in 2013. A decade later, she was a driving force helping the Thunderbirds break their premiership drought.

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In 2013, netballer Georgie Horjus watched the Adelaide Thunderbirds win a premiership as a teenage fan — a decade later, she would help them win their first premiership since as a player.

“It was pretty special,” the 23-year-old said.

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Horjus said being from Kangaroo Island sport has always been a big part of her life.

“I was naturally drawn to it, everyone in the country plays sport,” she said.

“I played. tennis, cricket, bit of football, swimming, but netball was my favourite, always has been.

“I’ve been lucky to love it so much.”

Horjus, who is nominated as a finalist in the The Advertiser, Sunday Mail SkyCity Woman of the Year in the Women in Sport category, started playing netball when she was five years old.

Adelaide Thunderbird and Australian netballer Georgie Horjus. Picture Mark Brake

When she made the under 12 state team her mum brought her to Adelaide, including catching the ferry, every single weekend.

“She was very selfless,” Horjus said.

In year 11, Horjus moved to Adelaide with her mum to pursue netball more seriously.

“(My family) are my biggest supporters,” Horjus said.

“They sacrificed a lot for me. I love seeing them at games … because it brings me so much joy. Netball is a big part of their lives now which is pretty cool.”

Eventually Horjus made it to the Thunderbirds where she won the premiership with the team in both 2023 and 2024 — a full circle moment for her after witnessing their win in 2013.

She was crowned the Super Netball Player of the Year in 2024 after a season with an impressive 230 goal assists, 445 circle feeds, 297 centre pass receives and 93 goals as she moved between wing attack and goal attack.

Horjus’s season campaign included four player of the match awards and five fan-voted MVPs.

Horjus also earned her maiden selection in the Super Netball Team of the Year as wing attack and made her Australian international debut.

Horjus looked up the female athletes most of her life. Picture Mark Brake

When Horjus was younger she looked up to female athletes and now says it’s extremely special she can be that person for other young girls.

She said while women in sports have come so far but they still has some distance to go in terms of getting the recognition they deserve from the broader public.

“I still want to make sure it gets even further,” she said.

“Some female athletes are incredible and I don’t think they get the recognition.

“It’s super special that we can be roles to young girls and hopefully they look up to us and know they can chase those dreams as well.”

The Adelaide Thunderbirds won the premiership in both 2023 and 2024 with Horjus apart of the team. Picture Mark Brake

Horjus has been nominated for the The Advertiser Sunday Mail SkyCity Woman of the Year in the women in sport category alongside Paralympian Nikki Ayers, Port Adelaide AFLW coach Lauren Arnell, Centre for Women’s Sport’s Marjorie Jackson-Nelson, Olympian Jess Stenson, Adelaide Crows AFLW player Ebony Marinoff and Olympian and Chef de Mission of the Australian Olympic Team Anna Meares.

“I feel very honoured,” Horjus said of being nominated.

“The list of nominees is amazing, there’s so many incredible women there.”

The award winners will be revealed in a ceremony in the SkyCity Adelaide Ballroom – which celebrates it’s 40th anniversary this year – on March 6.

Originally published as Woman of the Year finalist, Thunderbirds netballer Georgie Horjus’s full circle moment