Toowoomba netballer joins Super Netball team as training partner
Toowoomba netballer Ava Black’s career has been given a major boost with the Australian under-19 squad member joining Suncorp Super Netball squad the Sunshine Coast Lightning
Sport
Don't miss out on the headlines from Sport. Followed categories will be added to My News.
AVA Black has captured lightning in a bottle and does not intend to let it go.
Sunshine Coast Lightning have signed the former Toowoomba junior as a training partner for the 2022 season Suncorp Super Netball season.
“It’s amazing, I’m absolutely stoked and very excited to be joining the Sunshine Coast Lightning,” Black said.
“I feel honoured to have been handed this great opportunity to join the team and experience Suncorp Super Netball.”
Until the season starts in March, Black will essentially live the life of professional netballer with “double daily” training session some weeks and plenty of pre-season game and personal development commitments.
“Up until the start of the season you’re essentially working and training just like one of the 10 fully contracted players,” Black said.
“You’re involved in all the pre-season commitments – the games, the training, everything.
“Opportunities like this don’t come along very often for an 18-year-old netballer like me so I’m determined to make the most of it.
“Being able to train and work with players I grew up idolising is amazing.
“I know the experience is going to make me a better netballer on the court and a better person off it.”
Black, who is an Australian under-19 squad member and the 2020 Sapphire Series Most Valuable Player, is one of six Lightning training partners.
Able to cover all three centre court positions, she is a valuable addition to the squad and has earned high praise from Lightning head coach Kylee Byrne.
“Ava has such raw untapped talent and athleticism that will thrive and develop really quickly in this environment,” Byrne said on the Lightning website.
“She is so keen to learn and absorb herself in everything, she has fitted in perfectly.”
‘The stats don’t lie’: QLD First Nations coach exposes glaring netball anomaly
Queensland First Nations netball coach Sharon Finnan-White believes Indigenous players around Australia are still facing unique barriers to reach the elite level. Find out what she had to say and read more about the 2025 squad.
Love of the game: Darling Downs’ best U23 sports volunteers revealed
Generation Next: Volunteers are the lifeblood of grassroots sports clubs and we’re shining a light on the best Darling Downs talent aged 23 and under. Find out who cracked the list here.
Toowoomba V8 Supercars champ revved up for hometrack debut
After more than five years away from home, V8 Supercars champion Will Brown has his sights set on a dream race win in front of family and friends next weekend. Details here.
Gallery: On and off court action from schoolgirls’ netball clash
From the grandstands to centre court here’s a look at all the colour and excitement of the Merici-Chevalier Cup. Find out if we snapped you at the massive schoolgirls’ netball night here.
Amazing talent: Ex-NRL fullback’s shock death shatters league fans
The rugby league community has been shattered by the sudden death in Toowoomba of a flying fullback described as an ‘exceptional talent’ and ‘cult hero’.
Colts 1 club rugby: Easts, Souths snare crucial wins nearing finals
Colts 1 club rugby: Easts and Souths have snared crucial wins ahead of the finals while Wests warmed its engines with an eight-try barrage against GPS. More here on how round 16 unfolded.