Written by Amelia Barnes
Victoria’s elite male and mixed squads are just days out from playing at the 2024 Australian Men's & Mixed Netball Championships – the biggest annual event on the men’s netball calendar.
This national competition brings together state boys, men, and mixed teams from across the country for one week of high intensity netball.
Under the guidance of Victorian Men’s & Mixed Netball Association (VMMNA) head coach Gerard Murphy, Victoria is looking to improve even further on an impressive 2023 performance that saw the state claim four premierships across the Men’s Reserve, 23&Under Men, 20&Under Men, and 17&Under Boys divisions respectively, in addition to the Open Men who finished runners up.
All the action kicks off at Brisbane’s Nissan Arena on Sunday 31 March and concludes Saturday 6 April. From Tuesday 2 April onwards, games will be live streamed via the QLD Suns Men's & Mixed Netball Facebook page.
Keep an eye on these exciting Victorian players throughout the week.
Open Men
Ten of the 12 players in Victoria’s 2023 Open Men squad will return to Nationals in 2024.
Following the retirement of long-time Victorian defender Tim Malmo, two new players have joined the side in Adam Franz (C/WA/WD) and Liam Killey (GS), who have both been elevated from the Reserves team after being named in their division’s All Star 7s (the best in position player award) in 2023.
“Adam is a tall mobile midcourter with great control. He has been elevated to the Open team and will be looking to cement his position against the best as an attacking midcourter,” said VMMNA head coach Gerard Murphy.
“At 6”10, Liam is a great mover and loves to shoot from range. He brings a new dynamic and the ability to change strategies for the attack end.”
The addition of Killey will allow the team to strategically switch from a moving to a holding circle as required.
Australian Kelpies representative Brodie Roberts will again be one to watch in GA, posing what Murphy describes as “one of the toughest matchups for any defender.” Murphy adds, “He brings exceptional vision, craft, speed, space awareness and ability to shoot from range.”
Kelpies defensive duo Josh Byron and Alastair Punshon will continue to build their on-court connection. “Both are flexible, adaptable, athletic, and ball winners,” said Murphy.
“Josh more regularly in GK is able to play against the best talls and/or mobile shooters, with footwork to match the most dynamic midcourt. Alastair continues to improve his leadership and brings great energy with a huge arm span.”
2024 Victoria Open Men team list
Cameron Allum
Josh Byron
Jayden Cowling
Adam Franz
Thomas Hardwick
Jake Hederics
Jake Noonan
Liam Killey
Ronan Pring
Alastair Punshon
Riley Richardson
Brodie Roberts
Deepak Patu (training partner)
Head coach: Gerard Murphy
Assistant coach: Shannon Bessell
Open Men Reserves
There’s been significant movement in Victoria’s Open Men Reserves team, introducing seven new players to their side including Alexander Arbuthnot (GK/GD), Lachlan Askew (GS/GA) and Paul Pekaj (C/WA) who are all new to the state program.
21-year-old Connor Lilly (GA/GS) and 22-year-old Callum Baird (C/GD/GA) have both been elevated from the 23&Under Men division after their performances at 2023’s Nationals saw them named in the All Star 7s.
Versatile and speedy attacker Billy Mahoney (GA/WA/C) has joined from the 2022 Mixed side, and James Sutton (WD/GD/C) will bring experience gained from playing in the Open Men division in 2023.
Expect Thomas Giliberto to impress with his powerful and dogged defence, and Michael Dower to provide leadership through the middle as he transitions from being a predominant shooter to a midcourter.
2024 Victoria Open Men Reserves team list
Alexander Arbuthnot
Lachlan Askew
Callum Baird
Andrew Burgess
Simon Cartwright
Michael Dower
Thomas Giliberto
Connor Lilly
Billy Mahoney
Alex Nichols
Paul Pekaj
James Sutton
Brandon D’Monte (training partner)
Joel Gosbell (training partner)
Flynn Williams (training partner)
Head coach: Craig Moore
Assistant coach: Matthew Blomeley
23&Under Men
A young and determined group has been selected for Victoria’s 23&Under Men team, which features nine athletes who have been elevated from younger teams.
“They all possess great athleticism matched with a fierce netball IQ, creating the perfect storm for any opposition,” said 23&Under head coach Greg Heinrich.
Among them are a handful of key players to watch, starting with young gun Zac Mabilia. The midcourter was a standout player in the 2023 17&Under Boys division where he was named in the All Star 7s and was the grand final MVP. “Zac is tall, lean and has the closing speed that gives him the ability to shut down any opponent and open the game up,” Heinrich said.
Accurate holding GS Terron King will once again team up with Shane Maniapoto in the goal circle. “Shane possesses plenty of magic out on the court in the attacking goal circle. He is incredibly creative, often catching defenders off guard and on the back foot, and matches this creativity with high shooting accuracy,” said Heinrich.
19-year-old Daniel King has also been elevated from last year’s 20&Under Men division where he made the All Star 7s. “Daniel is an exciting young defender with the ability to shut down both a quick moving goaler or a tall holding goaler due to his speed and athleticism,” said Heinrich.
2024 Victoria 23&Under Men team list
Reikken Brodie
Riley Colafella
Tom Fisher
Daniel King
Terron King
Harrison Lefebure
Ryan Lovell
Zac Mabilia
Shane Maniapoto
Brodie McCleish
Jake Novak
Flynn Pospisil
Ben Gosbell (training partner)
Harrison Nelson (training partner)
Kye Vahland (training partner)
Head coach: Greg Heinrich
Assistant coach: Kayla Young
20&Under Men
Expect a dominant showing from Victoria’s 20&Under Men team that is made up of several players from the 2023 undefeated 17&Under Boys side.
The list includes Christian Doukas, described by 20&Under head coach Natalie Baird as a “tall strong defender who is amazing at rebounding, and equally good in the air as he is for the low balls.”
Fellow defender Joel Brown is an incredibly controlled player who can seemingly come from nowhere to win ball for his side.
WA/GA Blake Cachia is the playmaker of the group who connects each third. “He has the ball on a string and is such a strategic player,” said Baird.
16-year-old William Whiteacre (GA/GS/WA) is known for his accurate shooting and defensive pressure in the midcourt. “His job is never done,” said Baird.
He’ll combine well with shooter and new state representative Carter Morrissey who at 7-feet tall will be a difficult target for other teams to shut down.
Defender Patrick Warr is another new state representative who has been selected for his versatility and quick footwork.
2024 Victoria 20&Under Men team list
Joel Brown
Blake Cachia
Christian Doukas
Connor Drysdale
Joshua Feeney
Josh Ferris
Carter Morrissey
Leighton Miller
Jacob Mudie
William Whiteacre
Kane Wilson
Patrick Warr
Hudson Ebbage (training partner)
Head coach: Natalie Baird
Assistant coach: Cameron Hughes
17&Under Boys
An entirely new lineup has been selected to represent Victoria in the 17&Under Boys division for 2024.
The team features a formidable attacking group starting with Jonty Stickland (C/WA/WD) who offers a hard one on one presence.
Aidan Conheady (GA/WA/C) has exceptional ball skills and athleticism that allows him to play any position, while Oliver Ryan (WA/C) has the speed and smarts to set up his teammates on the court. “An exceptional netball brain and understanding of the game, with a high level of coachability,” said 17&Under head coach Sarah Hogan of Ryan.
The team will benefit from the Nationals experience of Ben Holehouse (C/WA/WD), Campbell Brown (GA/GK), and Hayden Zani (GA/WA/GS) who all travelled with the team as training partners last year and had the opportunity to represent QLD Suns in the 20&Under Men division.
The defence end will be spearheaded by two Benjamins, both recognised for their ability to read the play. Benjamin Morgan boasts a “ridiculous workrate” says coach Hogan and Benjamin Cooke can reject shots with his great vertical leap.
2024 Victoria 17&Under Boys team list
Riley Bevis
Campbell Brown
Aidan Conheady
Benjamin Cooke
Declan Gallard
Harrison Hand
Ben Holehouse
Oscar Hughes
Benjamin Morgan
Oliver Ryan
Jonty Stickland
Hayden Zani
Head coach: Sarah Hogan
Assistant coach: Brieannan DeJong
Open Mixed
There’s been a shakeup in Victoria’s Open Mixed team who are pushing for a higher finish in 2024.
“Our mixed team has had the most change and should be in medal contention,” said VMMNA head coach Murphy.
Five of the team are past or present Victorian Netball League (VNL) players: Indya Forde and Ash Smith from Geelong Cougars, Shannon Blackman from Melbourne University Lightning, Jamie Clark formerly of Ariels, and Stacie Gardiner who previously played for Peninsula Waves and is now the Gippsland Stars assistant coach.
195cm holding shooter Jack Carpenter and versatile midcourter Samuel Milne will be valuable additions to the team. “He brings not just speed, but creativity, and has a huge netball IQ,” said Open Mixed head coach David O’Hare of Milne.
“Dana Button is another debutant who is tall, agile, and athletic, reads the play beautifully and can play all the defensive positions.
“Whilst we obviously have a significant number of debutants, they are very experienced, high-level players; we now have a great blend of depth, versatility and talent,” said O’Hare.
2024 Victoria Open Mixed team list
Jessica Black
Shannon Blackman
Dana Button
Jack Carpenter
Jamie Clark
Brooke Dadds
Sam Dugan
Indya Forde
Stacie Gardiner
Samuel Milne
Jarryd Pentony
Ash Smith
Daniel Stone
Brendan Nick (training partner)
Head coach: David O’Hare
Assistant coach: Guy McCleish
The Australian Men's & Mixed Netball National Championships will take place in Brisbane from Sunday 31 March–Saturday 6 April. From Tuesday 2 April onwards, games will be livestreamed via the QLD Suns Men's & Mixed Netball Facebook page.
