Melbourne Vixens name mid-court young gun Tara Watson as 11th player for 2025 Super Netball season

As a child, Tara Watson once posed for photos with her netball idol – now she gets the chance to play alongside her at the Melbourne Vixens.

A midcourt young gun who grew up idolising Kate Moloney and hails from the same junior club as the Diamonds’ star has been named as the Melbourne Vixens’ 11th player this season.

Versatile midcourter Tara Watson is in proud possession of photos posing alongside her childhood netball hero as a junior and the teenager is now relishing the chance to train and play alongside the vocal Vixens’ leader.

In her first season as a Vixens’ training partner, the 19-year-old has earned a promotion to the club’s 11th player position after impressing with her versatility in the club’s training environment.

Watson has been named as the Melbourne Vixens’ 11th player for the 2025 Super Netball season. Picture: Matt Harrington

“It was a bit of a shock, but I’m very excited and super grateful for the opportunity as well,” Watson said.

“Every time I am at training it is a pinch me moment because I’m like ‘Oh my god, I’m getting to train with the best players in the world and also the people I grew up idolising.”

“My two favourite players were Liz Watson and Kate Moloney. I would probably say more Kate Moloney, so it’s pretty surreal getting to train with her now.

A young Tara Watson with her netball idol, Melbourne Vixens captain Kate Moloney. Picture: Supplied

“She came and did a couple of training sessions with us once (at her junior club) and I have got a little photo of me and her back years ago when I was in under-13s and she did some appearances at the local competition as well where I got a photo and signature.

“It’s a dream come true that I am one step closer to being in an actual SSN team and the ultimate goal at the end of the day is to get myself inside the 10 one day, however long it takes to take my netball to the highest level I can whether that be Diamonds potentially one day.”

Watson, who hails from Diamond Creek Netball Club and plays for North East Blaze in the Victorian Netball League, is a defensive midcourter who can play across all three midcourt positions.

Watson in action during the pre-season. Picture: Grant Treeby

The teenager said she would be ready if she was called on to take to the court for the Vixens this season.

“Training with the Vixens has helped me a lot and I would feel comfortable and confident enough to step up if there was an opportunity,” Watson said.

“I would obviously be extremely nervous, but super excited at the same time.”

Netball Victoria’s general manager of high performance and pathways Sharelle McMahon said Watson would provide midcourt cover, versatility and “good energy” to the Vixens’ group.

“Tara has really impressed with what she’s been able to do when she’s been given some opportunities,” McMahon said.

“She covers all three (midcourt positions) … so she is quite flexible as all the midcourters are at the moment. She has a really great attitude and has brought a really good energy into the group, so it’s a really well-deserved recognition.

“It provides a bit of flexibility in what we are doing with training and the midcourters are the absolute workhorses of the team so just to provide that little bit of additional support was something that we thought was going to be really valuable.”

Introduced last season, the 11th player gives clubs the opportunity to sign an additional athlete who can be brought into the match day squad for tactical purposes during the season, not just as injury or illness cover for a contracted athlete.

The Vixens face the Melbourne Mavericks on Sunday at John Cain Arena.

Originally published as Melbourne Vixens name mid-court young gun Tara Watson as 11th player for 2025 Super Netball season