Written by Amelia Barnes
The 2023 Australian Netball Championships (ANC) are just a few days away.
The annual tournament sees Suncorp Super Netball (SSN) feeder teams and state bodies compete in a week-long tournament designed to showcase and develop the country’s emerging netball talent.
Representing Victorian Fury is an exciting lineup of young talent, including three midcourters making their team and ANC debut.
Meet the 2023 Victorian Fury midcourters and tune into Kayo Freebies to watch all games live and free from August 21-27.
Zara Walters
Positions: WA/C
Age: 19
Height: 176cm (5’9”)
VNL club: Geelong Cougars
Zara Walters started playing netball when she was eight years old.
Nine years later, after missing out on several Talent Academy programs (“I just never really trialled very well”) the midcourter from Colac was talent identified (TID) and selected in the Victorian 17/U state team in 2020.
Walters has swiftly risen through the netball pathway since, making the Australian 17/U squad in 2020; the Victorian and Australian 19/U squads in 2021 and 2022; and now the Victorian Fury.
“It was very exciting to finally know that I could do that and could perform,” said Walters of her selection.
Those in Walters’ hometown have long recognised her athletic talents, with the Colac Herald naming her Colac's Sports Star of the Year in 2022.
The 19-year-old credits playing in Geelong Football Netball League’s A grade division as integral part of her netball development.
“While you’re playing in country Victoria, I think you get a few more opportunities to play club level A grade … You experience [playing against] stronger bodies at a younger age, which some people in metro areas might not,” Walters said.
Walters is looking forward to facing SSN contracted athletes and training partners at ANC, including Lili Gorman-Brown and Sophie Fawns from the NSW Swifts, and Lucy Austin from Adelaide Thunderbirds Futures, who all played in the thrilling 2023 SSN grand final.
“It will be pretty interesting to come up against them just to see the level that you are at and what you're expected to get to,” Walters said.
The South Australian team won the 2022 ANC grand final against the Victorian Fury by 2 goals, and Walters predicts they will again be the team to beat in 2023.
Taylah Brown
Positions: C/WD
Age: 22
Height: 177cm (5’10”)
VNL club: Boroondara Express
Taylah Brown will make her Victorian Fury debut at the 2023 ANC after a stellar VNL season including being named in the Championship division Team of the Year.
The 22-year-old from Leongatha has played for Boroondara Express in the VNL for the past seven seasons. Initially a defender who played GD/GK for the U/15 School Sport Victoria (SSV) team, Brown moved to WD after joining the VNL, and more recently C.
Brown has concurrently progressed through the state and national netball pathways, making the Victorian 17/U team in 2018-2019 and 19/U in 2020; in addition to the Australian 17/U squad in 2018 and 19/U in 2020. She is currently a Vixens Academy athlete.
Teammate Zara Walters says Brown’s key netball strength is her “relentless defence.”
Walters adds, “She's an amazing defensive midcourter. She’s so dogged down the court.”
Sharni Lambden
Positions: WD/C
Age: 25
Height: 178cm (5’10”)
VNL club: Casey Demons
Sharni Lambden is Victorian Fury’s most experienced athlete.
The defensive midcourter was a Collingwood Magpies training partner from 2017 to 2019 and has been a Melbourne Vixens training partner from 2021 to present. She made her SSN debut for the Melbourne Vixens in Round 7 of the 2022 season, becoming Vixen #60.
At the 2023 ANC, the Victorian Fury will look to Lambden for her experience and composure as they foster new connections on court.
The versatile athlete was a Fury co-captain in 2022, adding to her national experience playing for Collingwood Magpies side the Tasmanian Magpies in the now dissolved Australian Netball League (ANL).
Lambden was in the Tasmanian Magpies team from 2017-2019 that won the 2018 ANL premiership. Lambden was the team’s star, winning back-to-back Best and Fairest awards in 2018 and 2019.
The WD/C is known for her multifaceted game and ability to apply consistent pressure across the court.
“She just grinds away and is quite tall for her position,” said Walters of Lambden.
Ruby Shannon
Positions: C/WA
Age: 19
Height: 173cm (5’8”)
VNL club: North East Blaze
Ruby Shannon will debut for Victorian Fury at the 2023 ANC.
The attacking midcourter joins the team after a standout performance in her second season of the VNL, including being named in the league’s 2023 19&Under Team of the Year.
Shannon was also member of the 19/U Victorian state team that competed earlier in the year at the National Netball Championships (NNC).
Fury teammate Walters said Shannon is a key player in the Fury lineup who offers an important point of difference to her fellow midcourters. “She’s shorter, speedy, and very quick on her feet,” Walters said.
A courageous and agile player, Shannon has experience feeding to shooters Lily Graham who is a 19/U Victorian teammate, and Georgia Moody who also plays for North East Blaze in the VNL.
Victorian Fury will compete at the 2023 Australian Netball Championships at the Morayfield Sports and Events Centre on Kabi Kabi Country in Morayfield, Queensland from August 21-27.
Watch every game live and free on Kayo Freebies
See the full 2023 ANC fixture and team lists
Meet the Victorian Fury defenders
Meet the Victorian Fury shooters
Hear from Fury Head Coach Di Honey
