Black Swans intervention that kept rising Indigenous midcourter Tierrah Miller in netball

Tierrah Miller is one of five potential debutants for the Black Swans in their PacificAus Netball Series after her footy defection was halted by the First Nations program.

If not for the Black Swans program, Tierrah Miller would be another netballer in the growing list of talented athletes lost to footy.

Miller, who has played at the state league level in both South Australia and Western Australia, had no intention of taking to the court again this season, deciding instead to focus on her other sporting love of Australian football.

But after turning out in the inaugural First Nations netball carnival last year, the midcourter was approached by Black Swans officials Ali Tucker-Munro and Beryl Friday who encouraged her to stay in the game.

The inaugural Black Swans squad was named last year to compete at the PacificAus Series as well as the Australian Netball Championships.

“I had a yarn with them after the grand final game and they spoke their words and convinced me (to stick with netball),” Miller said.

“I was bit hesitant at first, but I said to them ‘if the doors open up for me, I’ll take it, if not, I’ll stick with footy’.

“Those doors opened up and I just took (the opportunity).”

Miller was among 15 players named in the Black Swans squad for the PacificAus Netball Series in Brisbane from February 17-22, the tournament providing a valuable pathway for Australia’s best First Nations athletes.

A self-confessed “tom boy” in her youth who loved soccer and hated the idea of the netball dress, Miller was “tricked” into playing netball by her mother, who took her to the local courts at age 10 and asked if there was a team her daughter could join.

But immediately fell in love with the game.

“I was thrown in the deep end and I guess I just loved it since and I went pretty far with it,” Miller said.

Like many before her though, the Yamatji and Noongar woman was the only First Nations player on her team and is thrilled to be heading into a team environment with the Black Swans where she will be one among many.

“It’s really exciting. I look forward mostly to playing in a full team of other Indigenous girls at the high level,” said Miller, one of five debutants in the squad.

Hulita Veve from the Queensland Firebirds will captain Tonga at the PacificAus series and could line up against the Black Swans’ Miller.

“So I look forward to that and having fun.

“(And it’s) exciting to see like those others who have experience and big names, to see how I match up against them is a great opportunity, because it’s not every day you get that.”

Among those players is Tonga Tala captain and Queensland Firebirds midcourter Hulita Veve, who could match up directly on Miller if the 24-year-old plays at wing attack, as she did in the First Nations carnival.

Former Diamonds defender Kristiana Manu’a has also been named to play with Samoa and is another potential one-on-one match for Miller.

Overall, she’s just pleased to be breathing life back into her netball career, something she credits to the Black Swans program.

“I’m returning to netball for my child self,” she said of the 10-year-old with big dreams who fell in love with the sport.

“It is cool. We get to be playing the PacificAus Netball Series and knowing that it’s elite level, (the program is) investing in elite players, and then also getting knowledge from (head coach) Ali Tucker, who’s also been through that elite pathway, it’s a privilege and honor.

“Not many girl have this opportunity and they would kill to be in the Black Swans and I feel somewhat lucky knowing that I have that and I can take that back to my state and my club and focus on the feedback that I was given … it’s quite amazing.”

Black Swans squad

Maryke Babia – Mabuyag Island and Saibai Island

Jaylah Boney – Ngemba/Barkandji

Sophie Brewer – Wiradjuri

Olivia Clark – Kamilaroi

Lily Cubby – Murrawari

Acacia Elers – Worimi

Jayda Grant – Wiradjuri

Jamaica Jauncey – Yawuru

Scarlet Jauncey – Yawuru

Brook Lacey – Ewamian

Tierrah Miller – Yamatji/ Noongar

Jayden Molo – Waanyi

Tia Molo – Waanyi

Aaleya Turner – Kaurna

Nasyah Turner – Kaurna

Originally published as Black Swans intervention that kept rising Indigenous midcourter Tierrah Miller in netball