Carlton recruit Josh Honey and sister Tayla ready to carry on family sporting pedigree
Their dad won a Commonwealth Games medal and mum was an Australian netballer, and now Carlton rookie Josh Honey and Vixens midcourter Tayla are ready to forge their own sporting path.
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Next year shapes as a sweet one for sporting siblings Josh and Tayla Honey — and a chance to continue their family’s athletic pedigree.
The duo are ready to launch into 2020 after securing spots on AFL and Super Netball lists.
Josh, 18, realised his AFL dream when he was taken by Carlton with the third pick in last month’s rookie draft.
Tayla, 22, gets another chance with the Melbourne Vixens after her rookie year was cruelled by a pre-season achilles injury.
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The pair will carry on a strong sporting tradition.
Mum, Di, played 17 netball Tests for Australia before becoming an assistant coach with the Vixens and father, Neil, was a bronze medallist pole vaulter at the 1986 Commonwealth Games.
Tayla said she was thrilled to share the excitement with Josh after both had endured an anxious year.
“It's probably been a tough year for both of us in the sense that Josh was fighting for a spot all year, talking to clubs and not really knowing exactly where he’d end up or if he’d end up anywhere,” she said.
“And for me with my injury, it has been a tough year for both of us in different ways, so it’s exciting it’s all worked out.”
Josh, whose twin sister Olivia is pursuing a career in athletics, played as a midfielder-forward for the Western Jets and was thrilled to earn a chance at the top level.
“It’s a childhood dream, I’ve just loved it. The first few weeks at the club have been so good,” Josh said.
“The training has been pretty hard and tough, but I guess it will only get easier as you get fitter and stronger. I just want to try to learn everything and make the most of it.”
After being a training partner for two years, Tayla got her call-up to the Vixens list this year only to rupture her achilles tendon in February.
She is again doing everything on court except match-play and is more than eager to make up for lost time.
“When I got my call-up, I was ready to make that next step. I felt like I was the fittest and strongest I’d ever been, so it was devastating (when the injury happened),” she said.
“But I’m really grateful to be given the opportunity again, I feel like it’s been a long time coming so I’m super ready this time around.”
While both credit their parents as being a major support in their sporting pursuits, Josh was unsure if he would be able to fully convert the Magpie-mad family to the Blues.
“My whole family barracks for Collingwood, so I’m at the arch rival now but hopefully a few of them will jump across.”