Written by Amelia Barnes
An almost unchanged lineup will represent North East Blaze’s Championship VNL team in 2025 after making the 2024 grand final. The only new signing is the Suncorp Super Netball (SSN) experienced Nyah Allen, who returns to the VNL.
The combination of Allen with new Melbourne Vixens training partners Mia Lavis and Tara Watson will be an exciting attacking end to watch build over the 2025 season.
Blaze’s young athletes made the grand final in the inaugural year of the 23&Under division and have welcomed three players to hopefully go one step further.
Championship athletes
North East Blaze made finals in 2024 despite an injury-riddled VNL season.
Almost the entire squad has been re-signed, plus Nyah Allen, who returns to Blaze and the VNL. Allen was an Adelaide Thunderbirds training partner in 2019 and 2024 — bookending her time as training partner at the Collingwood Magpies from 2020-2022, who she played 16 games for in SSN.
Allen picked up her first full time SSN contract in 2023 with the Magpies — but was sidelined after undergoing surgery for a chest condition — and is a Melbourne Mavericks training partner for 2025.
“We are very excited to have Nyah back and we are looking forward to the experience she brings to our goal circle along with her attacking court craft and her confidence to turn and shoot,” said North East Blaze head coach Kate Upton.
Another Blaze goal attack to watch is Mia Lavis, who earned her first SSN training partner spot with the Melbourne Vixens for 2025. Lavis is a current member of the Australian 21/U squad, and won a gold medal with the Australian FAST5 team at the 2023 Commonwealth Youth Games.
“Mia’s maturity on court and the fact that nothing phases her allows her to go about her business and play the role required to bring others into the game in our attack end,” said Upton.
Lavis only played nine games in her 2024 debut VNL season due to injury, so she’s looking to make her mark on the state league in 2025. “For us, this is just the start to what Mia can bring to netball in Victoria and beyond,” said Upton.
Blaze’s other versatile goal attack is Georgia Moody, who has experience playing at the Victorian Fury level, and tied for the team’s runner up MVP in 2024.
Expect Blaze to rotate all three goal attacks to suit their game plan opposition.
“All three players aren’t pigeonholed to GA and all three can play GS, GA, and WA,” said Upton.
Goal shooter Sam Silvester will once again provide a strong and accurate target under the post.
The midcourt features another of the Melbourne Vixens' new cohort of training partners in Tara Watson (WD/C/WA).
“Tara’s biggest strengths are her body presence and physical strength on the take,” said Upton. “She is able to play a great shutdown role and is transitioning into a more creative attacking player.”
Watson will again link up with longtime Blaze athlete Maddi Wallmeyer (WA/C), and Kali Dolphin (C/WA/WD) who was the team’s other tied runner up MVP in 2024.
“Kali’s greatest strengths are her foot speed, spacial awareness, and her touch on pass,” said Upton.
Blaze’s defence end is a well-oiled machine, headlined by the team’s 2024 MVP Ty Coppinger (GD/WD/GK) who is constantly improving as an athlete.
“Ty has played in every VNL season since it began in 2009 and we believe she has played more VNL games than anyone else — 247 to the end of the 2024 season,” said Upton.
“Ty is a team first player who knows what is required in any positional role she is required to play due to her full understanding of our team game plan and expectations.”
Georgia Bowkett (GK/GD), Ruby Tidd (GD/WD/GK), and Kaitlyn Black (GKGD/WD) are also experienced defenders, playing 162, 139, and 109 games respectively for the club to date.
Brodie Smith (GD/GK) has re-signed for her second season at Blaze.
The Championship team are supported by three training partners: Alyssa Pearse who offers incredible versatility covering GA/GD/GS/WA/WD; up and coming GA/GS/WA Ava Upton; and defensive midcourter Annie Harvey who is returning to court following an ACL injury.
Upton said this team’s goal for 2025 is to have a greater understanding of their game plan and the ability to execute for sustained periods.
23&Under athletes
North East Blaze has one of the most settled lineups in the 23&Under VNL division.
Coach Upton has rewarded the 2024 athletes who really stood up in the inaugural year of the division, signing only three new players for 2025 who all have experience at the club.
The team finished third on the ladder in the regular season, preceding a two-goal win in the semi final, and a one-goal win in extra time in the preliminary final.
“Our 23s were super consistent in 2024 and exceeded our expectations,” said Upton. “The team showed great resilience to overcome injury setbacks towards the end of the season to make the grand final.”
Eliza Molino (GK/GD) had a remarkable first year in Blaze colours making the VNL 23&U Team of the Year (following a match saving intercept in the preliminary final) and the 19U state team.
“Eliza’s strengths are her ability to play across all three defensive positions, her body size, footwork and impact over the shot,” said Upton.
Molino was well supported by Madeline George (GD/WD/C) out front who was named the team’s MVP for 2024. “Maddy leads by example, can deliver on the game plan, and can win ball in critical moments,” said Upton.
Ally Langdon (WD/GK/GD) also had a great 2024 season tying for the team’s runner up MVP. “We were impressed by Ally’s ability to play across all three defensive positions and her consistency across the entire season,” said Upton.
Georgia Shattock (GK/GD) has re-signed after an impressive first season in VNL. “She has also had a great pre-season and we look forward to what she can produce in our defensive end in 2025,” said Upton.
The team have picked up a defensive star of the future in Ayva Tanfara, who has been elevated from the club's 19&under side. She is a WD/GD/C and member of the 19/U state team.
“We have seen a huge growth in Ayva’s defensive footwork and her ability to attack the line of the ball, which created a lot more turnover opportunities as a defender,” said Upton. “The pleasing growth has been her transition into attack.”
In the midcourt, Teaghan Coen (WA/C) has also moved up to the VNL from Blaze’s 19&Under team.
She joins Taiysha Wallis who can cover all three midcourt positions, and attacker Ava Lockwood in her second VNL season.
Olivia Cawthray (GS/GA) has re-signed after a stellar 2024 season including a spot in the VNL 23&Under Team of the Year and two clutch goals in the dying seconds of the preliminary final.
“Liv’s strengths are her volume and accuracy of shot and her ability to take on feedback and then implement,” said Upton.
She’ll again link up with the crafty Ella Tennant (GA/GS/WA), and Dee Dee Lambert (GA/GS) who is currently rehabbing an ACL injury.
Kaylah Loulanting (GA/GS) returns to Blaze’s goal circle after a year at Casey Demons.
“We are really excited to see what our experienced attack end of Taiysha Wallis, Ella Tennant, Kaylah Loulanting, and Ava Lockwood can do in combination with Liv Cawthray and Teaghan Coen,” said Upton.
North East Blaze have seven male training partners who play an important role in supporting the club’s VNL teams: Danny Loats, Riley Bevis, Kai Suzuki-McGauran, Ben Holehouse, Jake Noonan, Ronan Pring, and Australian Kelpies player Riley Richardson.
Coaches
North East Blaze’s VNL coaches are unchanged, with Upton continuing in the head coach role, and Ella Bayliss as the head coach of 23&Under.
The coaches share a similar mindset on strategy and execution of game plans, and assist one another in the other division.
“They are also very much on the same page in terms of club/player expectations and behaviours, but have their own individual coaching styles that complement each other and the group to get the best outcomes for the club,” said Neil Wallmeyer, North East Blaze netball operations manager.
North East Blaze 2025 Squads
Championship
Brodie Smith
Georgia Bowkett
Georgia Moody
Kaitlyn Black
Kali Dolphin
Maddi Wallmeyer
Mia Lavis
Nyah Allen
Ruby Tidd
Sam Silvester
Tara Watson
Ty Coppinger
Alyssa Pearce (training partner)
Annie Harvey (training partner)
Ava Upton (training partner)
Head coach: Kate Upton
Assistant coach: Ella Bayliss
23&Under
Ally Langdon
Ava Lockwood
Ayva Tanfara
Dee Dee Lambert
Eliza Molino
Ella Tennant
Georgia Shattock
Kaylah Loulanting
Madeline George
Olivia Cawthray
Taiysha Wallis
Teaghan Coen
Abby Akers (training partner)
Claudia Semos (training partner)
Genesis Foster-Jonassen (training partner)
Head coach: Ella Bayliss
Assistant coach: Kate Upton
Male training partners
Ben Holehouse
Danny Loats
Jake Noonan
Kai Suzuki-McGauran
Riley Bevis
Riley Richardson
Ronan Pring
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