Written by Amelia Barnes
Expect consistent and exciting play from Hawks Netball in 2024 after strong individual showings throughout the 2023 Victorian Netball League season.
The club have retained many of their star players – including 2023 Championship MVP Kaylia Stanton and 19&U MVP Sienna Green – and are looking to the future with a number of young guns joining the ranks.
After missing last year’s finals by one win, Hawks Netball’s Championship team have their sights set on a top four finish in 2024.
“For them I think there’s a bit of unfinished business and some determination to go one better,” said Hawks Netball head and Championship coach AJ Ballantyne.
Championship Athletes
Five new faces have officially joined Hawks’ Championship team for 2024: Chloe Duke (GD/GK), Annabelle Gorman (GA/GS), Keighley Starrett (C/WA), Tadiwa Kahonde (WD/GD), and Eryn Stocker (C/WA).
Duke steps up to the Championship level for the first time, continuing her steady rise through the Hawks pathway. She played the last two seasons in Division 1, earning herself a spot in the 2023 Division 1 Team of the Year.
“She held down GK for us week in and week out, so in Championship, we’re looking forward to her being able to explore goal defence more and see what she can do there,” said Ballantyne.
Gorman, Starrett, and Kahonde have all moved from Wilson Storage Southern Saints, providing Hawks with composure and experience across the court. The established connection between Gorman and Starrett in particular will benefit the side as they develop a relatively fresh attacking end.
Versatile defender and 2021 19&U MVP Kahonde brings flair and passion to the court that she hopes to build on in 2024.
Midcourter Stocker comes to Hawks from Peninsula Waves and is already impressing her new coach. “I think Eryn Stocker is set for a really big year. She’s one of the youngest in our Championship squad, but is already setting the standard in pre-season with her fitness and work ethic, and has slotted in really well with our attack end,” said Ballantyne.
Hawks’ new players will be complemented by former Melbourne Vixen Kaylia Stanton (GS/GA) who is back for her third season after a stellar 2023 in the VNL, winning both club and league MVP honours. “Kaylia obviously brings a huge amount of experience and her flexibility to play either a holding or moving role is crucial for us and the way our group plays,” said Ballantyne.
Also in the goal circle is Keeley Burgmann (GA/GS), who returns to the team after a 2023 mid-season injury.
They’ll be supported in the midcourt by Lorna Clark (WA/C) who is entering her third Hawks season. Look to Clark to provide leadership among the new cohort of midcourters and utilise her innate chemistry with twin sister Kirsty Clark (GD/GK).
Rounding out the defence end is Lauren Hucker (GK/GD) who brings height and an outstanding vertical jump to the team.
Ashleigh Newham (C/WA) has been named Championship training partner and has been an important contributor to the side throughout pre-season. “With a few players battling some niggles heading into pre-season, Ash has already been called on in basically every session to anchor our midcourt, so it’s fantastic to have someone like her there to push the team and bring a huge amount of intensity to our courtwork,” said Ballantyne.
23&Under Athletes
Hawks Netball have been able to draw on their strong Division 1 and 19&U teams (that both made finals in 2023) to field their first 23&Under side.
Among them are Dominique Taylor (GS/GA), Hannah Keane (GA/GS), Kaila Swindell (C/WA), and Olivia Barnett (GD/GK) from last year’s Division 1 team, and Georgie O’Brien (GK/GD), Sienna Green (C/WD), and Emma Storey (GD/GK) from 19&U.
“Every single one of them are great Hawks people who are ‘club first’ and really buy into what we’re about as a club,” said Ballantyne.
The shooting circle is in good hands with Taylor and Keane looking to build on their established partnership. “They were a big part of why we were able to finish top two at the end of the regular season [last year],” said Ballantyne.
They’ll be fed by Swindell and Green who are both coming off outstanding 2023 performances. Green in particular had a breakout season recognised for her speed, leadership, and decision-making skills.
“Sienna Green obviously had an incredible year being named as the 19&U league MVP and basically running four quarters of centre, unchanged, almost every week,” said Ballantyne.
“It’ll be very exciting to see what she can do with a bit more support and experience around her.”
Defenders Storey and O’Brien were also key players in 2023 who both earned selection in the Victorian 19/U squad. “O’Brien is an absolute workhorse and is just one of those players you can rely on almost every single game to win you some ball when you need it,” said Ballantyne.
“Emma Storey was an absolute surprise packet in 2023. She’d not played VNL previously or been a part of any pathway programs, so we took a bit of a chance in selecting her, but she repaid that and then some, featuring in our votes most weeks and sharing our team MVP award with Sienna. She’s a huge ball winner in defence and just never stops working.”
They’ll provide experience alongside Olivia Barnett who is one of the cleanest defenders in the game.
Newcomers to the Hawks include midcourter Joselyn Bennetts who joins from Boroondara Express, and Jessica Tetley (GA/GS/WA) who comes across from Peninsula Waves.
At 19 years of age, Tetley already has Championship-level experience under her belt and scored 429 goals in 2022 to win the VNL 19&U Hot Shot Award.
Fellow new recruit Eloise Argoon (GK/GD) is the youngest of the team at 16 years of age.
“In matchplay she’s lining up against Kaylia Stanton, so it’s a wonderful development experience for her and we think she’s got a really bright future,” said Ballantyne.
Coaches
AJ Ballantyne has been named Hawks Netball head coach for a second year. He started with the Hawks’ Division 1 team in 2017 before moving up to the top job in 2023 after the departure of Guy Keane to Netball WA.
“It’s been a very exciting and rewarding 12 months working across all of our teams and continuing to shape our playing list as we continue to bring young players through and strengthen our Championship group,” Ballantyne said.
A former state player, Ballantyne got his coaching start at Ariels where he previously coached for 10 years. In 2022 he joined the Victorian state underage program as an assistant coach, and he was an assistant coach with the Collingwood Magpies at the Australian Netball Championships.
The 23&Under side will be led by head coach Monique Lenehan-Moustafa. “Mon is practically part of the furniture at Hawks, having played here for about eight years and being in two Division 1 premiership teams, before stepping into an assistant coaching role with our Division 1 team last season,” Ballantyne said.
“She really shone in that role and earned a lot of respect from both our senior and younger players, many of whom she’d played with the previous year.
“It was really exciting for us to be able to bring her into the 23&Under head coach position where she’ll be able to drive the Hawks culture she was such a key part of as a player.”
Hawks Netball 2024 Squads
Championship
Annabelle Gorman
Chloe Duke
Eryn Stocker
Kaylia Stanton
Keeley Burgmann
Keighley Starrett
Kirsty Clark
Lauren Hucker
Lorna Clark
Tadiwa Kahonde
Ashleigh Newham (training partner)
Head coach: AJ Ballantyne
23&Under
Allie Davidson
Alice Nicholas
Amy Scott
Dominique Taylor
Eloise Argoon
Emma Storey
Gabriella Linton
Georgie O'Brien
Hannah Keane
Jessica Tetley
Joselyn Bennetts
Kaila Swindell
Olivia Barnett
Sienna Green
Head coach: Monique Lenehan-Moustafa
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View the 2024 VNL fixture
