Having already reached the highest level in football, making her AFLW debut for the Melbourne Demons earlier this year, it seems the sky’s the limit for Maggie Caris in netball too.
The 19-year-old defender from Horsham in Victoria’s west has been selected in the Australian 19/U squad and recently signed as a Melbourne Vixens squad member.
Caris joins Ruby Barkmeyer, Jordan Cransberg, Gabby Coffey, Emily Andrew and Sharni Lambden who have all been named in the squad to support the Melbourne Vixens in 2022.
“It's still crazy to sort of think about, to be named among them – it's such an honour, I'm really proud of it. It's going to be lots of hard work to put in as well, I'm very honoured to be named.”
With plenty of netball nous behind her Caris proved to be a late bloomer when it came to footy, only picking up the oval ball five years ago before being drafted to the Demons in 2020.
“I feel both sports play hand in hand with each other.
“I've played netball for a long time, so I feel like that helped me in the high performance areas to transition across to football as well.”
There is no denying that Caris has her plate full playing with the Melbourne Demons in the AFL Women’s, representing the Melbourne University Lightning in the Victorian Netball League and now joining the Vixens, crediting the work of the support staff around her for keeping her in shape.
“I’m really fortunate to have such amazing support staff in both sports, that allow me to condense a program to help me be the best athlete I can, and to manage load and ensure that I'm being successful in life and sport as well.”
Support staff have also been crucial for Caris throughout the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, with the defender highlighting the value of her scholarship with the Victorian Institute of Sport in helping her to stay connected with her teammates.
“We need to take every opportunity as it comes our way to just play netball, because I think – especially in Victoria – you understand how you can't take things for granted.
Looking back on her journey that started at the local courts in Horsham and then through to State Titles, Caris outlined the influence the Victorian Netball League has had on shaping her approach and understanding of elite sport in Australia.
“VNL's been a huge part of developing myself as a player and understanding the structure of how netball works.
“It's such a high level, whether you're playing Champ, Div 1 or under 19s all of them are such high levels, and the girls just put everything they can out there. No matter what games you're playing, you're going to have tough competition.”
Not only did Caris pay homage to the work Netball Victoria has done for those around her by creating an incredibly competitive state league, but so too the impact the league has had on her as an individual and player coming up through the ranks.
“I know personally how much it's helped me both on and off the court to develop my strength, my netball abilities, but also your resilience and perseverance and getting to know your teammates as well.”
As Caris steps up into the Vixens’ environment, and having caught the eye of national selectors, there’s no doubt she’s on track to take her netball the whole way. While it isn’t firmly in her sights just yet, as she begins to taste elite netball the end goal – as it is for so many – is to be playing on the international stage.
“I would love to play for Australia one day, but I feel like that's every little girl’s dream.
“Everyone sees them on TV and says 'wow they're just such amazing athletes', and to be in the pathway, it's a really special thing to be a part of and I feel like it kind of shows you that there is a way to get there.”
Caris is well and truly aware of the effort that must go into making this dream a reality, touting the necessary commitment and dedication it will take to reach those lofty highs.
“That would be the dream but there's lots of hard work. I think I'm just going to be working away at what I can do and what things I can control to make myself the best player and person possible.”
