2025 National Netball Championships live stream: Victoria not shying away from lofty goals for gold
They haven’t won gold at the National Netball Championships in six years but that isn’t stopping Victoria’s coach from labelling that as the benchmark in 2025. Watch all the action LIVE.
They fell short of bronze last year, but Victoria has high aspirations heading into Thursday’s national netball titles as they chase their first gold medal since 2018.
The third-place medal has been the only one in Victoria’s grasp in recent years, winning 19/U bronze in 2022 before losing both the 2023 and 2024 minor playoff match.
Their 17/U won bronze last year, though their last gold medal triumph dates further back to 2014.
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For new 19/U coach Adrian Ballantyne and his squad, the goal is clear this week: “make sure we’re playing off for gold this year”.
It won’t be easy faced with the might of reigning 19/U champions NSW, as well as typically strong outfits in QLD, SA and WA, but Ballantyne is confident if his players can stay disciplined and focused – and above all hungry – it will go a long way to achieving their goal.
“We’ve talked as a team about wanting our identity to be, just being the team that is going to hustle and work harder and just be able to grind out those results against the tougher teams who are going to be at nationals,” Ballantyne said.
Planning for all scenarios in Sydney, Ballantyne said he opted for versatility when selecting his 12-player squad, with many able to play multiple positions.
“We’re really confident with the group we’ve got, they’ve got the ability and potential to really be a threat towards the end of the week at nationals and excited to see what they can do,” he said.
Victoria’s 19/U squad
Holly Adams-Alcock
Returns after a strong 2024 national campaign, where the goal shooter took her opportunity with both hands after being elevated from training partner, after Victoria lost Lily Graham’s services to the Melbourne Vixens. A positive presence in the goal circle, Adams-Alcock is a dead eye shot from anywhere in the circle.
Mia Aitken
Aitkens steps up to 19/U’s after captaining Victoria’s 17/U’s to bronze in 2024. The athletic defender can play all three positions equally well, while switching between a tall or shutdown role. Will partner well with Charli Hoey in defence, both teammates in the VNL for Geelong Cougars.
Sahara Ball
A versatile goal shooter who is also dynamic through the GA position, Ball is Victoria’s tallest under the ring and boasts good shooting range. Has come through Victoria’s pathways, with 2025 her third nationals, but first as a bottom-age 19/U.
Charli Hoey
The Geelong teen was an unanimous pick for captain, the 18-year-old a natural leader both on-and-off the court. Was one of Victoria’s best at the 2024 nationals as a bottom-ager, the defender rarely playing a bad game with her elite ability to win ball for her team.
Piuti Laban
The dynamic Laban primarily plays goals at a state level but will be used as an attacking midcourter at nationals. Has come along in leaps and bounds learning the WA craft, her explosiveness a major asset as she steps into a key playmaking role for Victoria.
Mia Lavis
A standout player for Victoria in recent years, Lavis is a dynamic goal attack who brings consistency and smarts to her role and an ability to shoot from all corners of the circle. Will be primed for a big week in her final nationals, after joining Melbourne Vixens as a training partner this year.
Anncey Lyon
The bottom-age Lyon offers versatility in Victoria’s goal circle as a different-style goaler to Lavis and Ball, while she can switch between the GS and GA positions. An unassuming figure, she’s mobile and smart, as well as accurate from long range.
Eliza Molino
An experienced national championship player for Victoria, dating back to 15/U’s, Molino is a leader on-and-off the court and a strong analyser of the game. Playing both GD and GK, she can play tall but also run out of the circle to provide drive down the court.
Eliza Mooney
Primed for a second national title campaign, after bursting on the scenes in Victoria’s talent pathway last year as a largely unknown figure. The defender, who hails from Wodonga, plays tall but is starting to step out of the circle and hunt for turnovers – looking very dangerous when up and confident.
Georgie O’Brien
Voted in as vice-captain – O’Brien’s first leadership position at state and national – the Melbourne teen brings effort and dogged defence through the midcourt. Quick and physical, she was one of Victoria’s top interceptors last year and can easily play a shutdown role.
Mackenzie O’Dwyer
A dynamic, attacking midcourter, O’Dwyer steps up to 19s after captaining Victoria’s 17/U’s to bronze last year alongside Aitken. A mature decision maker who brings work ethic and creativity to the centre and wing attack positions, expect O’Dwyer to be the on-court leader of Victoria’s attacking end.
Ayva Tanfara
Set to make her national championship debut as a top-age player, Tanfara enters Victoria’s program as an exciting talent in a similar mould to O’Brien. A specialist WD who is also learning the centre and GD positions, Tanfara has incredible closing speed and can come up with plenty of ball.
Victorian 17/U Squad
Coach: Jacinta Todd
Captains: Allie Davidson and Molly Moylan.
Squad: Allie Davidson, Molly Moylan, Kiara Boyd, Camille Brownjohn, Sienna De La Sota, Amalani Faunuku, Abbey Hogg, Cleo McLachlan, Gemma Meadley, Alice O’Callaghan, Indi O’Connor, Haleina Tanoi.
‘We can definitely get it’: Vic rising stars eyeing national netball glory
Mia Lavis doesn’t want to settle for fourth again.
The star goaler will lead Victoria’s 19/U attack at this week’s National Netball Championships in Sydney, with an extra layer of physicality and intensity expected from the 19-year-old after joining Melbourne Vixens’ environment as a training partner this year.
Though hopeful of showing everything she’s learnt training alongside some of Australia’s best netballers, the lure of a medal is the biggest driver for both Lavis and her fellow top-agers in particular.
Losing the 17/U bronze medal match in her first national titles campaign in 2023, Lavis and Victoria again fell short in fourth in 19/Us last year – both times to Western Australia.
But the dynamic goal attack, ahead of her swan song nationals, remains confident in Victoria’s chances this year.
“I think all of us can say we don’t want to finish fourth again,” Lavis said.
“We definitely want to medal and I think we can definitely get it.”
Lavis, who has long been a star on the rise after winning Commonwealth Youth Games gold in 2023, has embraced stepping into the Vixens’ environment as one of four new training partners.
“I think it’s just another step up, again, just with the intensity and professionalism, it’s really great to learn off the likes of Kate Moloney and Keira Autsin … girls I’ve idolised,” she said.
“I think the biggest thing is the way they train, every single rep of every single drill is just 100 per cent and that correlates into game play and match play.
“I’ve really tried to follow their standard and intensity so that it can translate into my game, and just the added physicality and intensity … it’s amazing I can learn from the Vixens and take it back into my other environments.”
Also lining up for Victorian Netball League club North East Blaze, Lavis was permanently promoted to championship division this year.
While she made her debut in the top side last year, stress fractures in her back following last year’s nationals curtailed her season right before the inaugural SSN reserves season.
Making a six-hour round trek from her home town of Howlong – on the NSW border near Albury – to Melbourne multiple times a week for training, Lavis believed her move to the city this year had done wonders for her game.
“I noticed a bit of a niggle and didn’t think too much of it but obviously it was a bit bigger than I was thinking,” she said of her injury.
“But that time off, it did allow me to focus on other things like school (Year 12) and being at home before the move down to Melbourne.
“It was pretty tough coming down three-four times a week.
“It’s a bit of a change now … to have a bit more recovery time, not being in the car for six hours – I think what probably contributed to my injury was just sitting in the car for three hours after training … you can’t properly recover.”
Supported by the Victorian Institute of Sport, Lavis worked to strengthen her back for a return – though was forced to bide her time getting back on court.
“This type of injury, it’s really annoying, there is no sort of set date of when your back or recovery is expected,” she said.
“It’s just week by week.”
Now back in the goal circle and firing, Lavis is buoyed by an “exciting” Victorian 19/U squad brought together under new head coach AJ Ballatyne, who steps up after assisting in previous years.
“I think it’s just really exciting … It’s a really awesome group and they all bring something different to the team,” Lavis said.
Originally published as 2025 National Netball Championships live stream: Victoria not shying away from lofty goals for gold
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