Written by Amelia Barnes
The Australian Netball Championships (ANC) are back this month with an exciting lineup of young athletes set to represent Victorian Fury.
ANC is a key transition pathway for emerging talent to be identified for the 21/U Australian squad that feeds into Suncorp Super Netball (SSN).
Throughout the week-long tournament, Victorian Fury will face 10 other sides including SSN reserve teams the Adelaide Thunderbirds Futures, Firebird Futures, Collingwood Magpies, GIANTS Netball Academy, QBE Swifts Academy, Sunshine Coast Lightning Bolts and West Coast Fever Reserves, in addition to the Capital Darters, Tasmania Wild, and new team Territory Storm.
The 2023 ANC will be held at Morayfield Sports and Events Centre in Queensland from August 21 to 27, with all games streamed live on and free on Kayo Freebies.
Get to know Victorian Fury’s shooters as they prepare for the tournament.
Emily Andrew
Positions: GS/GA
Age: 20
Height: 191cm (6'3")
VNL club: Wilson Storage Southern Saints
Emily Andrew is the Fury’s most experienced shooter, having been a Melbourne Vixens training partner for two years and playing in several underage state and national teams across the early stages of her career.
After making her ANC debut in 2022, Andrew is hoping to earn more court time and help lead a relatively young lineup of Victorian talent at this year’s event.
The goaler is one of the tallest and most versatile Victorian shooters with the ability to play across both GS and GA.
“I really pride myself on being fit and being able to play across multiple positions – not just falling into that traditional holding shooter role,” said Andrew. “I think my versatility to play that holding position, but then also switch it up and be more of a moving circle with the other GA or GS, is really important.”
2023 has already been a big year for Andrew, having been elevated to the Melbourne Vixens’ match squad as a temporary replacement player in Rounds 2 and 3 of the recent SSN season.
“It honestly had to be one of the best days ever. It was so exciting just sitting on the bench – I think you could see me in the background of the camera standing up, yelling and screaming.
“Both of the games were incredibly close, so just kind of being able to immerse myself in that environment was pretty amazing.”
Andrew said there’s “nothing like” being able to learn from some of the world’s best players as a Melbourne Vixens training partner. “This year I think I've really been able to improve in my game and learn a lot from all the coaches, the players and the team.”
Claudia Mawson
Positions: GA/GS/WA
Age: 21
Height: 178cm (5'10")
VNL club: Melbourne University Lightning
Claudia Mawson returns to Victorian Fury in 2023 following her ANC debut in 2022.
The agile GA from Echuca played an important impact role at last year’s championships and has since had another standout VNL season representing Melbourne University Lightning.
Mawson’s playmaking, strength on the take, and hands over pressure in defence are reminiscent of Melbourne Vixens and Diamonds GA Kiera Austin, who the young athlete looks up to. “She’s so smart with the ball and is great defensively too,” said Mawson of Austin.
The shooting connection between Mawson and Emily Andrew is one to watch at ANC.
“Claudia is just such a smart GA. She's such a great playmaker to have out the front and her work rate as well is incredible, she's never not doing something,” said Andrew of Mawson.
“Playing with her is really easy because she's so crafty and we can just link up and read each other's minds in a way. I kind of know where the ball is going to go and how we're going to set up for the next play.”
Georgia Moody
Positions: GA/WA
Age: 21
Height: 176cm (5'9")
VNL club: North East Blaze
Georgia Moody received a late call up to the Victorian Fury squad and will make her team debut at the 2023 ANC.
The predominant GA comes into the squad with seven years of VNL experience after making her first team at 15 years old.
She has previously represented Victoria on many occasions in the School Sport Victoria (SSV) U/15 (2016-2017), U/17 (2019) and U/19 (2021) teams.
Moody was also part of the 2022 Melbourne Vixens Academy designed to develop and extend the pool of athletes within the Victorian high performance pathway.
Now playing for North East Blaze in the VNL, Moody has had a breakthrough season building on her impressive partnership with Collingwood Magpies alumni Nyah Allen.
Andrew says Moody overcomes her relatively short height for a netball shooter with her accuracy and court smarts.
“People kind of underestimate her, but she can shoot over any defender's hands,” said Andrew of Moody.
“She's got such an accurate shot, and similar to Claudia, she’s a playmaker out the front. Her work rate is also incredible. She’s so smart and talented.”
Lily Graham
Positions: GA/GS
Age: 17
Height: 183cm (6'0")
VNL club: Wilson Storage Southern Saints
Victorian Fury’s youngest player Lily Graham will make her ANC debut in 2023 after impressing in the recently concluded VNL season.
Originally selected in Wilson Storage Southern Saints’ Division 1 team, the 17-year-old was elevated to the Championship team in the final round of the VNL season to play alongside Andrew. She contributed 13 goals in 34 minutes shooting at 93%.
Graham’s Fury selection follows competing at the National Netball Championships with the Victorian U/17 state team in 2022, and U/19 state team in 2023. She played nine games on both occasions, shooting at 88% and 87% respectively.
Graham was also part of the Australian Pathway national team that competed at the 2022 PacificAus Sports Netball Series; the Victorian Institute of Sport (VIS) Netball Development squad that travelled to New Zealand in early 2023; and the 2023 Vixens Academy.
Her netball idol is Queensland Firebirds and Diamonds GA Gretel Bueta, who Graham takes after with her athleticism and split landings.
“She's going to go so far in her netball career,” said Andrew of Graham. “Her ability to just turn and get the ball and shoot – it just seems to go in every single time. I never have a single doubt that I'm going to have to go up for a rebound.”
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 all ANC games live and free on Kayo Freebies
See the full 2023 ANC fixture and team lists
