Live stream: Victoria’s Tully Bethune to represent Northern Territory at national netball championships

Feeling blue after missing out for her home state, Tully Bethune got an unexpected offer to play at the national championships - and she can’t wait. See her play LIVE from Tuesday.

Tully Bethune was left to deal with disappointment after missing out on Victorian state selection.

But as the Geelong goal shooter tried to find positives in her omission - like focusing on Year 12, less travel for training and time for friends - an arising opportunity in another state offered a way to do the thing she desperately wanted.

Lining up for Northern Territory’s 19-and-under squad as an import at next week’s National Netball Championships, Bethune is buoyed by a return to nationals, where she played last year as part of Victoria’s 17-and-under team.

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You can watch Bethune and her NT teammates LIVE from April 9 as part of a three-year partnership between Netball Australia, KommunityTV and all News Corp Australia mastheads.

Tully Bethune will be facing Geelong teammates at the nationals.

Catch every game from two courts at Jubilee Park Stadium in Frankston.

Check out the LIVE STREAM draw below.

Missing the cut for Victoria’s 19-and-under team as a bottom-ager, Bethune said it was thanks to the Victorian Institute of Sport that the opportunity to trial for NT as an import arose.

“Not making Vic definitely took a bit of a toll on me,” Bethune said.

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“Obviously I was upset but I was trying to take the good out of it.

“Then I got the opportunity from Northern Territory. I was like ‘why not, what have I got to lose?’. I can still do what I do in Northern Territory, I get to play with a good group of girls, I get that competitive competition that I love, and I can also get re-scouted and talent ID’d into the VIS.

“There is so many opportunities and new learning experiences, not many people get to go to another state and play, this could be a one-time thing I do... so I may as well make the most of it.”

Flying up to the Northern Territory in February to trial, Bethune, 18, received a call two weeks later from their head of netball confirming her selection.

“She said ‘we’d love to have you’ and I’m like ‘I’d love you to have me’,” Bethune said with a laugh.

“I’m just so happy I get the opportunity to go to nationals again, especially with such a great group of girls.”

Joining Bethune in Northern Territory’s line-up is another Geelong Cougar in Georgia Howell, a strong defender who makes her national championship debut.

Bethune backed her teammate to find another level within the high performance environment of nationals, just as she did last year playing alongside a top goal attack in Mia Lavis for Victoria.

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“The competition is definitely there and you’re pushed to do well because you’re playing the best of the best,” Bethune said.

“Being able to play with other people who are really amazing in that environment, it just changes the whole way you play.”

Bethune was teammates with Charli Hoey and Mia Aitken last year.

Bethune admitted not being able to train regularly with her teammates had been difficult, though she focused on making the most of a trip up north in March for a ‘much needed’ camp.

Heading home four days later, Bethune felt more assured in the team’s prospects, as well as her attacking third which features the likes of Isabelle Ross, Ava Moller (a NSW import) and Charlotte Hateley.

“It’s very dynamic, I’m a holding shooter and we balance each other out really well,” Bethune said.

“Everyone’s accuracy is pretty good - I reckon we’ll be really good.”

And while a showdown with Victoria - and Geelong Cougars’ duo Charli Hoey and Charlotte Morey - in the last round before finals might cause nerves for some, Bethune is ready to embrace the occasion.

“I’m so excited,” she said.

“I’ve played with those girls quite a lot.”

“I reckon it will be a bit of fun.”

Originally published as Live stream: Victoria’s Tully Bethune to represent Northern Territory at national netball championships