The audacity of youth was on full display in season 2023, with many young players making a mark, so it’s time to select the under-25 Team of the Year.
Fox Netball pundit Erin Delahunty has picked the seven players, aged under 25, who have shone in their respective positions.
Below are those seven athletes and the players who just missed Delahunty’s cut.
Watch Super Netball Preliminary Final Free & Live between NSW Swifts v West Coast Fever Saturday 7PM AEST on Kayo Freebies. Join now and start streaming instantly
GOAL SHOOTER
Stone-cold Austin, Lucy Austin
She’s only played an average of 18 minutes a game this year, but 21-year-old Adelaide Thunderbird Austin is shooting at 83% accuracy – up there with teammate Eleanor Cardwell (86%) and Swift Helen Housby (85%). She’s also a big part of why her side is in the grand final, after sinking a near-super shot length goal with seconds left in the major semi against the Swifts at the weekend to force extra time. In her first season as a contracted player, the 190cm Adelaide native has shown maturity, as well as versatility not usually evident in someone so tall.
Unlucky to miss out: Amid the myriad of Jamaican stars in the league, shooter Shimona Nelson is often forgotten but the 24-year-old trails only Jhaniele Fowler and Donnell Wallam for goals scored (618/648) and is the second-most accurate goaler in the league, behind Fowler, on 95%.
GOAL ATTACK
Ms Sleek, Sophie Dwyer
It’s easy to forget just how young – 21 – super mover Dwyer is, given she’s been starring for the Giants since 2020. The 273 goals from 354 attempts, at 77% accuracy, Dwyer shot in the home and away season is just eight fewer than her predecessor Kiera Austin, now with the Vixens, who also shot at 77%. Only Helen Housby (86) and Sasha Glasgow (73) shot more super shots than Dwyer (67). The 2021 league rising star has continued to evolve her court craft in 2023, learning from the best in teammate Jo Harten.
Unlucky to miss out: Much of the West Coast Fever’s success is attributed to Jhaniele Fowler, but her support act, 24-year-old South Australian Sasha Glasgow is a star in her own right. Glasgow trails only Housby for super shots in 2023 and her feeding makes the Jamaican look good week in, week out.
WING ATTACK
Watson’s apprentice, Hannah Mundy
Liz Watson’s apprentice at the Melbourne Vixens – who averaged just 23 minutes a game across the season – is arguably the best player in the league who regularly starts on the bench. Each time Mundy, the daughter of legendary Australian wing attack Shelley O’Donnell, was given a chance by Simone McKinnis this season, she took it with both hands, using her explosive speed and nous to get depth and lose her defender. On the circle’s edge, she’s strong and smart. And the most amazing part? The 180cm TikTok-loving dynamo only just turned 22, so has more development to come.
Unlucky to miss out: Fans of the Adelaide Thunderbirds like to say that their best goal attack is also their best wing attack, such is the skill of 21-year-old Georgie Horjus, who ranks in the league’s top six for goal assists, feeds and centre pass receives.
CENTRE
Brainy mid, Tayla Williams
Described by her former Australian under-21 coach Kylee Byrne as the “complete centre” with a high netball IQ, 23-year-old Williams is a vital cog in the Thunderbirds’ machine. Sharing the centre bib with her captain and mentor Hannah Petty, Williams has done whatever’s been asked of her by Tania Obst this season, whether that’s starting and dominating or coming off the bench. Williams is as equally strong in attack as defence, but it’s her knack for reading the play and getting in the right spots that sets her apart, as evidenced by the intercept she took in the dying moments of the major semi against the Swifts at the weekend, that sent the game into extra time.
Unlucky to miss out: Queensland Firebird Macy Gardner was hitting her straps when she broke her right wrist against the Vixens in round seven, an injury which ended her season. The speedy 23-year-old – in her second stint as a contracted player – was building her minutes and using her ability to read the play to full effect.
Thunderbirds win thriller extra time! | 01:28
WING DEFENCE
Sunshine Girl star, Latanya Wilson
The list of players who’ve had the better of Liz Watson, one of the best netballers on the planet, is short, but most certainly includes 22-year-old Thunderbird Wilson, who lowered the Aussie captain’s colours in round five. Wilson also beat just about every other opponent she marked, regardless of if she was at wing or goal defence. She has the fifth-most intercepts (29) and deflections (66) and is ninth for gains (49). The 188cm Jamaican, who was signed to UK Super League franchise the Celtic Dragons in 2020, but played just two games before the season was cancelled because of Covid, reached superstar status in 2023.
Unlucky to miss out: Injury offered opportunity to 24-year-old Swift Tayla Fraser this season and she took it, showing coach Briony Akle she deserves to be on the court, whether it’s playing a dogged role at wing defence or dodging and driving with intent at centre or wing attack.
GOAL DEFENCE
Notorious RBD, Ruby Bakewell-Doran
Bakewell-Doran was so effective this season, she must have been close to taking Sunday Aryang’s spot in the World Cup team. The 24-year-old Firebird, ultimately named a reserve by national coach Stacey Marinkovich, ranked among the best for all key defensive metrics, sitting fourth for intercepts (30), sixth for gains (62) and also sixth for rebounds (19), where she was the first goal defender to appear on the list. Her low penalty-to-gain rate – she was penalised just 1.6 times for each gain on average this season – is perhaps her biggest asset, along with her ability to stay on task.
Unlucky to miss out: Fever’s Sunday Aryang is as good one-on-one as she is working in partnership with Courtney Bruce. Clean, clever and tenacious, she can shut down every type of goal attack.
Fever down Vixens to keep GF hopes alive | 01:32
GOAL KEEPER
Leaping Liv, Liv Lewis
Goal keepers need to match up well on every style of shooter, but with the best goaler in the world, Jhaniele Fowler, in the league, how you perform on her really matters. And on that front, 24-year-old Vixen Lewis excelled in 2023. The 184cm West Australian, a former teammate of the Jamaican captain, was as effective as anyone when she got a chance on Fowler, using her fancy footwork, extraordinary elevation and timing to effect important tips and touches. Against Swift Romelda Aiken-George in round six, Lewis played one of her best games in blue yet, picking up five gains, which included three intercepts and two deflections with a gain.
Unlucky to miss out: Former Firebird training partner Ash Ervin got limited minutes in 11 matches this year, but managed 10 intercepts, 11 rebounds and 19 deflections; a more than fair return. The 20-year-old 192cm Queenslander doesn’t rely on her height, winning the ball with smarts inside and outside the circle.
