Among the 1888 people who live in the NSW-VIC border town of Barooga is one of the country’s brightest young netball stars.
Mackenzie O'Dwyer is a seasoned athlete in the Netball Victoria pathway with multiple appearances at the National Netball Championships (NNC) already under her belt, plus selection in the Australian 17/U squad.
Kicking off on 10 April, the 2025 NNC will be O'Dwyer’s third time representing Victoria (including co-captaining the 17/U side last year).
A ‘bottom age’ athlete for the 19/U side, the 17-year-old midcourter was stoked to be selected in the 2025 team who will compete at Sydney’s Netball Central.
“I didn't really know where I would fit… so I didn't really expect a lot to come out of it. I just thought I’d trial and see what comes of it,” said O'Dwyer. “Just being my age and seeing obviously how good the talent was in the top 25… I was very shocked.”
If she isn’t at school preparing for her year 12 exams, O'Dwyer is likely in the car travelling to Shepparton where her local netball club is based (a two-hour return trip), or to Melbourne for state team duties and to play in the Victorian Netball League (six-hour return trip).
That travel has recently ramped up, with O'Dwyer earning a 2025 scholarship to the Victorian Institute of Sport (VIS) and gaining selection in the newly formed Super Netball Reserves Melbourne Mavericks team — both based in Melbourne.
O'Dwyer said her netball journey really kicked off when the regional athlete achieved state selection and began playing in the Victorian Netball League (VNL).
“When you start making state teams, I think that really increases your confidence. You're not just playing like footy netball where you're probably the standout… It challenges you and that's only going to make you better,” she said.
“That sort of improvement comes really quickly once you're in that phase of preparing for Nationals. I love it.”
Initially joining City West Falcons in the VNL in 2023, O'Dwyer moved to new club Bendigo Strikers the following season and plays in their 23&Under team.
She said the state league has elevated her game by exposing her to some of the country’s most accomplished players and a more competitive training environment.
“It did provide a rapid improvement to my netball, and you're playing against the girls who you are going to come across for state… so you’re seeing who you have to go up against. I think VNL is really important in the Netball Vic pathway,” O'Dwyer said.
The midcourter’s parents have been by her side through it all — still often joining their daughter on long car trips even after earning her Ps — as well as elite coach Tracey Brereton.
O'Dwyer has been fortunate to not only have Brereton as a coach in Shepparton, but also in the state program, at the Bendigo Strikers in the VNL, and now in the Melbourne Mavericks Reserves team.
“I was really lucky,” said O'Dwyer. “Tracey mirrored a lot of what we’d do at state training back at Shepparton… but once you go to state training, you’ve got everyone pushing you and just wanting you to be better.
“The people around you are really important.”
One of six Victorian athletes in the 2025 19/U Victorian state team who earned a NNC 17/U bronze medal last year, O'Dwyer is excited to reunite with her teammates on the national stage and is determined to bring home gold.
“I think we have such a good group this year especially because a lot of us have played together,” she said. “We've been in the state with each other for probably three years now, and it's become a really good environment. We're there to push each other as hard as we can so we can strive for what we want to do at Nationals…
“You want to push to get Victoria back in the top spot… I really, really want to get a good result without our group.”
Look for O'Dwyer’s fitness, strength on the take, and precision throughout the week playing across wing attack and centre. A natural leader, she brings other players into the game with her positive nature and playmaking abilities — something O'Dwyer’s mum noticed when her daughter first stepped on court many years ago.
“She is a really good teammate. She’s always there to support her teammates, and she has been since she was playing junior netball through the footy-netball club,” said Carmen O'Dwyer.
“She’s always been a great confidence for everyone else and she supports them in their journeys as well.”
The teams will compete at Netball Australia’s National Netball Championships which will be played at Netball Central in Sydney from 10-16 April.
