Netballer Kaylee Acton stars for Claws, at QISSN in breakout season

A chance positional switch four years ago has transformed Kaylee Acton into Sunshine Coast Thunder Super Netball attacking prodigy. Go inside her breakout season where she has earned praise from one of the game’s legends.

Central Queensland player Kaylee Acton has developed into one of netball's most exciting prospects.

A chance positional switch four years ago has transformed Kaylee Acton into Sunshine Coast Thunder Super Netball attacking prodigy.

Acton had no hesitation answering the call when the Biloela under-13 netball team needed a goal shooter for the Queensland State Age Championships.

More accustomed to the defensive end of the court, she just loved the game and was willing to give anything a go.

Her mum Adele was the coach and knew she could help develop her eager daughter’s technique around the circle.

The positional switch four years ago was seemingly preordained as Acton has developed into one of the most exciting attacking players in the game.

The 17-year-old is enjoying a breakout 2025 season.

Kaylee Acton has been a key figure for the Capricorn Claws.

She was one of the younger players selected in the Capricorn Claws team and announced her arrival in the Ruby North series with two Player of the Match awards in the opening round.

The performances impressed talent scouts, earning her a call-up to the Sunshine Coast Thunder to play in the HART Premier Netball League Sapphire Division.

Acton has since made two more appearances with the Thunder, those coming hot on the heels of her starring role at the prestigious QISSN Carnival in Bundaberg earlier this month.

Judged Rockhampton Grammar’s MVP, she was selected in the 12-member QISSN All Star Team and crowned Player of the Carnival.

Kaylee Acton celebrates her QISSN Player of the Carnival award win with her mum Adele.

Grammar coach Janene Buckton said Acton’s stunning on-court efforts impressed a netball legend.

“The greatest netball shooter in the world, Vicki Wilson, tapped her on the shoulder and told her she was doing really well,” she said.

“That was pretty exciting and something that doesn’t happen to just anybody.”

Buckton said Acton’s consistency and commitment instilled confidence in her coaches and her teammates.

“She’s outstanding, she performs every game,” she said.

Kaylee Acton, 16, playing for the Rockhampton Grammar School First XII netball team.

“She’s willing to do the work and she’s done it and it’s really paid off in the past 12 months.

“She’s a strong country kid with a good head on her shoulders and nothing fazes her.”

Anna Young coaches Acton in the Claws and was at QISSN as coach of The Cathedral College.

Kaylee Acton after a Capricorn Claws game with parents Richard and Adele Acton, grandparents Larry and Beth Acton and sister Eliza.

She said Acton was outstanding all carnival and beat out some very experienced, high-profile players to the top gong.

“Kaylee was outstanding across the carnival. She dominated in the shooting circle and even stepped up playing in defence when needed by her team, proving once again how versatile and dependable she is,” Young said.

“It’s a testament to her growth and the work she’s been putting in behind the scenes.”

Seven-year-old Kaylee Acton playing NetSetGo games at the Biloela Netball Association.

Growing up on the family’s cattle property about 200km south-west of Rockhampton in Central Queensland, Acton started netball as a seven-year-old in the NetSetGo program at Biloela.

Adele said it was clear from the start that netball was the game for her.

“We had her in different sports, little athletics, swimming, tennis,” Adele explains.

Adele Acton with daughters Eliza (left) and Kaylee.

“She was happy enough to not do them at different times but that was never the case with netball. “She always wanted to play netball. It’s always been her passion.”

Adele describes Acton’s career as a “slow burn”.

Kaylee Acton, 9, playing for Thangool State School in the Regional Shield.

Her first rep duty was at the aforementioned state age championships before at age 14, she moved to Rockhampton as a boarder at Grammar.

“Sometimes she didn’t always get the top-level opportunities so she worked on being the best she could be in the team she was in,” Adele said.

Those higher honours started to come, and Claws’ selection and the Thunder games are understandably high on the list of achievements.

Kaylee Acton, 10, playing Fast Five netball with her dad Richard.

Adele said the QISSN Player of the Carnival was unexpected and, as such, pretty exciting but the “big one” was inclusion in the All Stars team.

“To be standing up there with those girls, most of them Queensland reps, was a special thing for her,” she said.

Adele describes Acton as “quietly competitive”.

“You don’t see a lot of emotion on court from her; she just sees it as her job to get on there and do what she can for her team,” she said.

Kaylee Acton has made three appearances for the Sunshine Coast Thunder.

“She loves the challenge and the physicality of it.

“It’s never been about the level she can get to. She always wants to test herself against harder opponents and work out how she can beat them.”

Adele said Acton was humble, grounded and hard-working, traits inherent of her country upbringing.

“She’s a pretty practical sort of kid,” she said.

“She takes things in her stride and never blows things out of proportion.

“She doesn’t particularly like the attention, she just wants to play.”

Kaylee Acton working on her family's property, Greenroc, near Thangool in Central Queensland.

Adele said Acton had a strong connection to the land and was considering a move to Gatton to study agribusiness when she graduates. “We’ve always encouraged our children to do what they love and hopefully that brings them success,” she said.

“At the moment, Kaylee is loving playing, she’s loving training under Anna Young with the Claws, and she’s loved the extra step up and the experience she’s gaining there.

“She’s never said out loud what level she wants to get to, but she’d definitely love to make a Queensland team if that’s in her future.

“But right now, she’s taking it one step at a time.”

Originally published as Netballer Kaylee Acton stars for Claws, at QISSN in breakout season