Written by Amelia Barnes
It’s a new era for Melbourne University Lightning (MUL) with former Championship captain and Melbourne Vixens training partner Gabby Coffey joining the UK’s Netball Super League after notching up over 100 VNL matches at the club.
The Championship team is hoping for a finals appearance following an inconsistent season and eighth place finish 2024.
MUL’s 23&Under side has nine returning players and some exciting new talent looking to improve on their impressive 2024 campaign, which saw them fall just short of the grand final.
Melbourne University Lightning will host home games at Narrandjeri Stadium at Thornbury's John Cain Memorial Park in Rounds 5 and 17 and celebrate their 500th match as a club in Round 15.
Championship athletes
2025 will be a big year for Melbourne Vixens training partner Maggie Caris in Lightning’s Championship team following the departure of defensive partner Gabby Coffey, who signed to Birmingham Panthers in UK’s Netball Super League.
“Maggie is our most experienced defender at the ripe old age of 22,” said Melbourne University Lightning Championship head coach, Sarah Mylrea.
“She is one of the only defenders in the VNL to be able to compete with the tall goal shooters. Her arm span is amazing and her ability to get hand to ball around and over some of the tall goal shooters is unmatched.”
The star defender will play an important role leading Lightning’s young side as they look to reestablish their finals-making form of years past.
“This year we are a very young team with 10 of our 12 players being 24 years old or younger,” said Mylrea. “This is the year for the players who have now been in the team for a few years to really step up.”
Caris will likely team up in the circle with Tepaea Hobson — an exciting young defender who is making her way back to court following corrective surgery for an ACL injury sustained in 2019.
Playing on an unstable knee in 2023, Hobson represented Victorian Fury and was selected to take part of the Australian 21/U camp as an invitee.
“We may not see Tep for Round 1 but she is tracking very well for a return very soon after,” said Mylrea. “She is a powerhouse in the defence end with her long arms, her ability to come out on the hunt, and her quick footwork to get around even the strongest goalers.”
Kirby Elliot (WD/GD) has joined MUL’s Championship side after captaining the club’s 23&Under team in 2024.
“Her ability to win ball in both WD and GD will make her an asset to the defence end of the Championship team,” said Mylrea.
Charlee Kemp is also a long term MUL player progressing through the club’s ranks. The defender had a great season in 2024 — being named the team’s MVP and making the VNL 23&Under Team of the Year — and has the flexibility to play across GD, GK, and WD.
Dayna Williams is another versatile player who has moved up from the club’s 23&Under team. After suffering an ACL injury in 2023 and returning to court last year, the defender is looking stronger than ever.
“She brings a grace and athleticism that none of our other Championship players have, coming from a background in ballet,” said Mylrea.
Both Kemp and Williams will play over Lightning’s Championship and 23&Under teams throughout the season.
Since joining MUL Lightning four years ago, Emma Winfield has been steadily progressing from the club’s former premiership-winning 19&Under side in 2023, to 23&Under in 2024 (where she made the VNL 23&Under Team of the Year), and now officially the Championship team. She is an incredibly versatile attacker who can play across C, WA, GA, and GS at this high-performance level.
“In 2024, Emma had the opportunity to take the court for Championship on a number of occasions and really stood out. It was a no-brainer to take her up full time,” said Mylrea. “Her ability to read the play and be a playmaker in the attack end is unmatched. She is smart, dynamic, and knows how to perform under the most intense situations.”
Winfield’s former 23&Under teammate Alex Booker (GS/GA/WA) also officially makes the step up to Championship for the 2025 season after providing valuable cover at this level last season.
“Alex has worked hard over 2024 building on her physical strength and endurance to be able to step into the more physical Championship competition,” said Mylrea. “She will be an asset to the Championship team with her bubbly personality and her endless energy.”
Both Winfield and Booker will benefit from the Championship experience of fellow goalers Claudia Mawson and Caitlin Hill who have re-signed with the team.
General manager of Melbourne Mavericks and former Super Netball player Shae Bolton Brown has also re-signed with the club. Bolton Brown played very limited minutes in 2024 but is expected to play a bigger role this season.
“Shae is a massive asset to any team. With her experience at the highest level of netball she brings a wealth of knowledge and understanding of netball and she is a fantastic role model for the young team we have this year,” said Mylrea.
Lorna Clark, who moves across from Hawks Netball and was named Best & Fairest in the Southern Football Netball League in 2024, is a valuable new signing for MUL this season.
“In 2024, we felt that we were missing a true WA so when Lorna joined the team she made it complete,” said Mylrea. “Lorna is strong, smart and dynamic in the way she plays.”
23&Under athletes
Melbourne University Lightning 23&Under’s team finished second on the ladder in the regular season, but just missed the grand final, going down by one goal in extra time in the preliminary final.
The squad has nine returning players, plus Charlee Kemp and Dayna Williams who will play over both VNL divisions, placing them in good stead for a top two finish in 2025.
A handful of new players have joined the team, starting with Annecy Lyon (GS/GA), who comes across from Southern Saints. Lyon is one to watch in the Victorian netball pathway, having made the 17U State team in 2024, and 19U State team for 2025.
“Annecy is a strong target with a high accuracy. She has been working hard on her fitness and strength over preseason,” said Melbourne University Lightning 23&Under head coach, Stephanie Norton.
Lyon will complement re-signed shooters: accurate Kate O'Dwyer, dominant Claire Oakley, and Akira McCormack (GA/WA) who returns from a year at Western Warriors. “She is a very versatile player who can change a game,” said Norton of McCormack.
New signing Lily Davis (WA/C) has experience feeding Lyon at Southern Saints. “Not only does Lily bring across her netball smarts, speed and accurate feeding she brings her experience and a mature head,” said Norton.
Davis will be joined in the midcourt by returning MUL players Montaya Sardi (WD/C/WA), training partner Olivia Jones (WD/C/WA), and Millie Hogg (C/WA).
Hogg had a great first year at MUL in 2024, claiming a spot in the VNL 23&Under Team of the Year.
“Her ability to combine with the team and her speed is one of her main strengths. She is a very dynamic player with great vision on court, and as a WA also does the work in defence,” said Norton of Hogg.
“Montaya is another one to watch, she has been at MU Lightning several years and had a really consistent 2024 season. She has a great connection with the team, and she is one that I believe can step up and push herself to the next level.”
Millie Hogg’s younger sister Abbey Hogg will also provide midcourt support to the team as a training partner. A 17U State representative, Abbey Hogg is expected to play across MUL’s VNL and development teams in 2025.
“Although they are sisters, they are two very different players with different strengths, and we can’t wait to see them together in 2025,” said Norton. “Abbey is a controlled player who is very versatile throughout the midcourt.”
Eliza Burge (GD/WD/GK) and training partner Xara Burge (WD/GD) are the team’s other sister duo. The former has been elevated into the main team for 2025 after being training partner in 2024.
“She was part of the 2023 19U MUL Lightning premiership team and was also part of the 2024 17U State team,” said Norton. “Eliza is a hardworking player who will give it everything during games and training. She reads the play well.”
Mackenzie Wallace (GD/GK) has been elevated into the team following an impressive season as a training partner.
“She played several games in 2024 and showed that she can step up to that level,” said Norton. “Mackenzie works hard to shut her player down and has a great reach.”
Norton expects Tilly Shepherd to have a great year after a standout debut VNL season. “Tilly’s first year in VNL was in 2024 and boy, did she not disappoint. One of her many strengths is the ability to turn the ball over in defence and we are looking forward to her continuing to gain confidence each week.”
Grace Markovic will bring her valuable experience to the defence end following two seasons playing at the Championship level.
Coaches
There’s been a shuffle of coaches at Melbourne University Lightning with Tegan Hopkins moving from Championship head coach in 2024 to assistant coach and director of netball in 2025, and Sarah Mylrea moving from 23&Under to take the reins at Championship.
“Sarah has great coaching experience and comes with a very logical coaching style. She will provide our Championship players with high expectations and will demand good quality netball,” said Hopkins.
The club’s 23&Under side has elevated Stephanie Norton to head coach, and Jacqui Harrington joins as assistant coach.
“Steph has been coaching for many years at Caulfield Grammar and has had various roles in SSV and Indoor Netball Championships,” said Hopkins.
“Her commitment and care towards the player group was consistently evident when she has been an assistant, so having her step up into a head coach role at MUL is very exciting.”
Harrington has previously coached in the Riddell District Football Netball League (RDFNL) and Northern Football Netball League (NFNL).
“Jacqui was a great coach whilst in the scholarship position so having her work with Steph is really exciting,” said Hopkins. “The two coaches will have high expectations of the group and will deliver these standards to the player group with poise and composure.”
Melbourne University Lightning 2025 Squads
Championship
Alex Booker
Caitlin Hill
Casey Dunstan
Charlee Kemp
Claudia Mawson
Dayna Williams
Emma Winfield
Kirby Elliot
Lorna Clark
Maggie Caris
Shae Bolton Brown
Tepaea Hobson
Maddison Kirk (training partner)
Mikaela Vaughan (training partner)
Director of netball: Tegan Hopkins
Head coach: Sarah Mylrea
Assistant coach: Tegan Hopkins
23&Under
Akira McCormack
Annecy Lyon
Claire Oakley
Eliza Burge
Grace Markovic
Kate O'Dwyer
Lily Davis
Mackenzie Wallace
Millie Hogg
Montaya Sardi
Tilly Shepherd
Xara Burge (training partner)
Olivia Jones (training partner)
Abbey Hogg (training partner)
Head coach: Stephanie Norton
Assistant coach: Jacqui Harrington
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