2025 runners-up Hawks Netball is the team to watch in the Championship division of the Victorian Netball League (VNL) after handing premiers City West Falcons their only loss last season. Former Melbourne Vixen and 2023 VNL MVP Kaylia Stanton returns to the side post parental leave, and Melbourne Mavericks training partner Charli Hoey has joined to help Hawks go one better in 2026.
The 23&Under team is primed for another strong season with a relatively stable lineup and 3rd place finish in the 2025 regular season.
Championship athletes
2025 VNL finish: 2nd
In: Charli Hoey (Geelong Cougars), Kaila Swindell (elevated from Hawks 23&Under)
Returning: Olivia Barnett, Eryn Stocker, Ashlea Mawer, Sienna Green, Jessica Tetley, Chloe Duke, Georgie O'Brien, Kaylia Stanton (returning from 2025 parental leave), Ashleigh Newham
Out: Keighley Starrett (Gippsland Stars), Dom Taylor, Hannah Keane, Kirsty Clark (Boroondara Express)
Hawks Netball almost pulled off a huge upset in 2026 to stop City West Falcons from claiming their fourth consecutive premiership. Hawks won by 11 in the semi final, but a last-minute comeback by Falcons saw Hawks go down by two in the grand final.
Head coach AJ Ballantyne was incredibly impressed by his team who performed exceptionally while solidifying combinations. “I wouldn’t say we outperformed expectations, as we knew the group had a lot of potential, but we did have a lot of players new to Championship and a lot of players new to the team, so it’s always a bit of an unknown whether it’s all going to come together and the younger players are going to be able to step up under that sort of pressure,” said Ballantyne.
“The way the entire group delivered in the back half of the season and through finals was really incredible and speaks to the way the whole club lifts each other behind the scenes.
“Obviously the girls were disappointed to be in a winning position in the grand final and come up just short, but it just proved to them that they’ve got what it takes to match it with anyone, and it’s certainly been driving them through pre-season.”
The team is looking to pick up where they left off with a relatively stable lineup and some star new talent.
For 2026, Hawks has recruited one of the most exciting athletes in the league in Charli Hoey (GD/GK/WD) who joins from Geelong Cougars’ 23&Under side. An unassuming defender with an elite read of the game, Hoey brings experience as a Melbourne Mavericks as a 2026 training partner, 2025 19/U Victorian State Team captain, and 19/U Australian Squad member to this already stacked side.
“We’re very excited to have someone of Charli Hoey’s calibre join our club and strengthen our defence end further,” said Ballantyne. “A position opened up after the signing period and Charli was exploring options for moving to Melbourne to take up SSN training partner opportunities, and things just fell into place.”
Hoey will partner with Chloe Duke (GK/GD) who was one of the standouts of the 2025 VNL season, making the Championship division Team of the Year. Duke stood up in crucial moments throughout the season, proving effective on dominant holding shooters. She is also a member of 2026 Melbourne Mavericks Reserves team.
Olivia Barnett (GD/WD/GK) has also re-signed for her second year at Championship level. “I think Liv Barnett flies under the radar of a lot of teams. She just goes about her business and almost invariably got the job done last season in her first year of Championship,” said Ballantyne. “I think she’ll take a lot of confidence heading into her second year and really announce herself.”
At the other end of the court, Kaylia Stanton (GS/GA) is back after welcoming her first child in 2025. Stanton is one of the most experienced players in the league with multiple years of Suncorp Super Netball and an VNL MVP award under her belt.
Ballantyne is excited to see Stanton’s combination with Ashlea Mawer (GS/GA) who fit seamlessly into the Hawks’ lineup in 2025 to win the team’s MVP award and make the league’s Team of the Year. The high-volume shooter is incredibly accurate, sinking 46 goals at 100% in the grand final, and 906 goals at 94% throughout the season. She is also a member of 2026 Melbourne Mavericks Reserves team. “Ash quickly established herself as a very special part of the group and proved herself in every big moment that the season threw at her,” said Ballantyne. “Now, we get to see both Ash and Kaylia in action together. Having two talls who are that dynamic is really rare, and it’s going to be super exciting to see them build that combination throughout the season.”
Jessica Tetley returns after a fantastic 2025 VNL season. The predominant goal attack well and truly stood up last year, providing court smarts and composure in her first official season at this level, and being named as 2026 training partner for the Melbourne Mavericks Reserves.
In the midcourt, Hawks has elevated their 23&Under star and pathway product Kaila Swindell to Championship. “Kaila’s getting her first crack at Championship level after leading our 23&Under team for the past couple of seasons, including the 2024 premiership,” said Ballantyne. “Five of our now Championship squad members were a part of that team, so it’s really pleasing that we’re able to continue pushing young talent through.” While currently working through an injury niggle, Swindell is expected to be back early in the season.
Swindell joins a re-signed midcourt lineup, starting with Melbourne Mavericks Reserves athlete Eryn Stocker (WA/C).
Sienna Green (WA/WD/C) has also re-signed for her second year at Championship level. “Sienna Green got a good taste of it last year and was on court in some really critical moments like our one-goal win in the qualifying final,” said Ballantyne. “You can’t buy that kind of experience, so it’ll be awesome to see her take the confidence from that and run with it.”
Georgie O'Brien is an integral member of this side who won the team’s Player of the Finals award in 2025.
Ashleigh Newham has also re-signed, bringing her trademark speed to C/WA as she rebuilds from injury.
23&Under athletes
2025 VNL finish: 3rd regular season, 5th finals
In: Charlize Traumanis (Gippsland Stars), Charlotte Jones (Melbourne University Lightning development squad).
Returning: Allie Davidson, Cheryl Chen, Sienna De La Sota, Dakota Blade, Jasmine Hamilton, Eloise Argoon, Teagan Bethune, Emma Storey
Out: Keeley Burgmann (Casey Demons), Joselyn Bennetts
Hawks Netball’s 23&Under side was in a rebuilding phase in 2025 after several athletes were elevated to the Championship division. Despite new personnel, this young team outperformed expectations, managing to finish 3rd in the regular season.
The team’s focus this year is finishing off close game and building on their strong foundations. “With a very stable squad from last year to this year the improvement should come from going in with those established combinations and familiarity,” said Ballantyne.
Hawks has bolstered their shooting stocks for 2026 by signing 185cm-tall Charlize Traumanis (GS/GA) from Gippsland Stars. The 18-year old made her Championship debut in 2025, and is a member of the 2026 19/U Victorian State Team. Playing in the Gippsland League for Drouin Hawks Football & Netball Club, Traumanis was named the club’s runner up Best and Fairest A Grade player in 2025 as a 17 year old, and will share the Drouin goal circle in 2026 with former Melbourne Vixen Mwai Kumwenda.
“Charlize is a very exciting addition to our lineup and gives us a lot of flexibility in our goaling end,” said Ballantyne. “There aren’t many players with her height who also have the agility and fitness to run out at goal attack, so while we know she can dominate at goal shooter we also see it as a real point of difference to be able to run with two talls in there at times alongside Dakota Blade.”
Blade (GS/GA) will play her second season with Hawks in 2026 after shooting 593 goals at 90% throughout her 2025 VNL season and winning the team’s MVP award. “Dakota was ultra consistent at goal shooter all season,” said Ballantyne.
Allie Davidson (GA/WA/GS) is also gearing up for a big season after co-captaining the 17/U State Team in 2025 and being in 17/U National Squad. She is also a Reserve athlete for the 2026 19/U State Team. “Allie had some really big moments where she stepped up and took the game away from the opposition with her ability to be high volume and high accuracy from range,” said Ballantyne. “She’ll keep getting better and better and continues to show huge potential across both goals and midcourt.”
New to Hawks’ midcourt is Charlotte Jones from Melbourne University Lightning development squad. “Charlotte really impressed us at trials — you could straight away see she had the work ethic and intensity required for VNL netball,” said Ballantyne. “With her ability to cover both WD and C, she was just what we needed.”
Jones will learn from the experienced Sienna De La Sota (WA/C) who is in the 2026 19/U State Team and was in the 2025 17/U National Squad. She is an always reliable player, with a fast yet calm presence on court.
Fellow midcourter Cheryl Chen has re-signed following her first official season in the 23&Under division and making the 2026 19/U Victorian State Team. She is an athletic and crafty defensive midcourter.
Teagan Bethune will play her second year with Hawks in 2026 and apply versatility through the midcourt.
In the defence end, Jasmine Hamilton (GD/GK) also returns for her second season at Hawks. “In the second half of the season really showed what she’s capable of and won us an absolute ton of ball,” said Ballantyne.
Eloise Argoon (GD/GK) is primed for a strong year as she continues maturing as an athlete. “She was only 15 when she joined our defence end in 2024, and as you’d expect, it sometimes takes a little time to figure out what’s required to be a consistent performer at this level,” said Ballantyne. “Elo’s showing during this pre-season that she’s taking that step.” A floating defender with great elevation, Argoon is also a member of the 19/U Victorian State Team for 2026.
Emma Storey (GD/GK) has re-signed after a plantar fascia injury halted her 2025 season. “She’s shown a bucketload of resilience to get back to where she’s currently at and was just incredible last year at supporting the team as one of our captains, even when she couldn’t be out there,” said Ballantyne. “Every single person at the club can’t wait to see her run out there in Round 1.”
Coaches
All of Hawks Netball’s 2025 coaches are returning for 2026, including club and Championship head coach AJ Ballantyne, who also heads up the 19/U State Team. He will be assisted by Carly Webster for the fourth year.
2024 23&Under premiership winning coach Monique Lenehan-Moustafa is also back alongside assistant coach and former Hawks player Chloe Sinclair.
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