Western Warriors is looking to the future, adding some star young recruits to their 2026 Championship Victorian Netball League (VNL) side, including Melbourne Vixens training partner Mia Lavis, and UK defender Megan Allen who joins from the Netball Super League.
The 23&Under team is stacked with Victorian State Squad athletes hoping to make an impression in 2026.
Championship athletes
2025 VNL finish: 8th
In: Megan Allen (UK Netball Super League) Fionnuala Mckeagney-Stubbs, Mia Lavis (North East Blaze), Kali Dolphin (North East Blaze), Amanda Umanski – training partner
Returning: Rebecca Hicks, Ruby Shannon, Olivia Ellis, Eliza Gollant, Jasmine Fraser, Simona Di Filippo, Poppy Douglass, Sarah Croft, Kim Borger
Out: Abbey Ellis (WNBL), Elly Randall, Georgia Hellyer, Shannon Freeman, Tayla Honey
Western Warriors has signed some exciting youngsters to their 2026 Championship roster ahead of the club’s third VNL season. They’ll be looking to step up in replacement of former Melbourne Vixens: retired Kim Borger (although she will play as required), and Tayla Honey who is taking a break from the VNL.
Western Warriors head and Championship coach Kim Bailey is hopeful more time together as a squad and less injuries will push Warriors into the top six. “We are looking for greater consistency across the season and the ability to win the close contests,” Bailey said. “We have deliberately added strength and heights into our defensive end – an area where we identified we need to strengthen.”
New to the shooting end for 2026 is Mia Lavis (GA/GS), who comes across from North East Blaze, and is entering her second year as a Melbourne Vixens training partner. “She is an extremely talented shooter who will add speed and accuracy in the circle that has been vacated by Kim Borger,” said Bailey. 19-year-old Lavis is hoping to cement a starting goal attack position in the VNL this season, drawing on her experience at the Vixens, and in the 2025 Australian 19/U Squad.
Lavis joins Poppy Douglass (GA/GS) in the goal circle for her second year at Warriors. She brings her own experience in the Netball Australia pathway including the 2020 17/U National Squad.
Rebecca Hicks (GS/GA) provides a strong target under the ring with her crafty play. The goaler slotted 1053 goals in the Ballarat Football Netball League in 2025, including a single match with 104 goals shot at 92%, earning her the leagues’ A Grade Netball Goaler of the Year award.
Training partner Amanda Umanski provides another tall goaling option with prior VNL experience.
Simona Di Filippo (WA/C) is a Ballarat Football Netball League (BFNL) star who will lead the Warriors’ midcourt this season. She was the BFNL’s runner up A Grade Netball Best and Fairest and wing attack of the year in 2025, following winning the A Grade Netball Best and Fairest (Sally McLean Medal) award in both 2023 and 2024.
20-year-old Ruby Shannon (C/WA) is gearing up for a big VNL season after claiming the team’s 2025 Best and Fairest award despite an ankle injury interrupted season. The speedy and tenacious midcourter spent 2025 as a Melbourne Vixens training partner and Australian 21/U Squad member, and she has joined the Melbourne Mavericks as a training partner for 2026.
Kali Dolphin has signed with Western Warriors from North East Blaze as a lightning quick WA/C to fill the midcourt position vacated by Tayla Honey. “Kali is super fit and already has a connection with Mia Lavis so should be able to provide seamless feeds to the circle,” said Bailey.
WD/C Olivia Ellis has re-signed following an elbow injury towards the end of the 2025 VNL season.
Sarah Croft returns for her second season at Championship level and provides strong cover across all three midcourt positions. She was named an interchange in the BFNL’s 2025 Team of the Year.
In the defence end, Warriors has re-signed Jasmine Fraser (GK/GD) who also played in ACT’s Capital Darters Super Netball Reserves side in 2025.
She’ll join Eliza Gollant (GD/GK) for another year after an injury-interrupted Championship debut season.
To replace Elly Randall (who is not returning to the side due to an increase in work commitments), Warriors has signed Megan Allen, who played in the UK’s Netball Super Netball in 2025 for Leeds Rhinos. She brings great experience, having trained behind Geva Mentor at Rhinos. “We are really looking forward to seeing Megan Allan take the court. She has been extremely impressive during the preseason so far and is super fit and will add a greater level of intensity and toughness to our defensive line,” said Bailey. “She’s looking forward to experiencing the Australian netball environment.”
Warriors’ final new signing is Fionnuala McKeagney-Stubbs who is returning to the VNL in 2026 after last playing for City West Falcons' 23&Under side in 2024. She was also a member of the 2021/2022 Australian 17/Under squad. “Fionnuala is a very versatile player who has found a home in defence but can swing into a tall WA/WD, and even goals, if necessary,” said Bailey.
23&Under athletes
2025 VNL finish: 10th
In: Taylah Easton (Northern Territory), Holly McCarthy (Western Warriors Reserves), Millie Scott, Charlize Bellette (Geelong Cougars), Millie Sharp (Western Warriors Reserves)
Returning: Ella Closter, Grace Hay, Kiara Boyd, Shaid Sasalu, Eva Ryan, Haleina Tanoi, Leona Hristovska, Sadie Cheeseman, Charlize Cooke, Dasha Taylor, Ebony Porter
Out: Brydi Hutchinson, Grace Manserra, Kahlan Tanoi
The bulk of Western Warriors’ young 2025 23&Under squad has been re-signed for 2026 after promising performances, particularly in the latter half of the VNL season.
“As the season progressed, we saw great improvement with some great wins as the team started understanding the intensity required,” said Bailey. “This year, we are looking for greater intensity and consistency across the entire season and seeing the players mature.”
Among the athletes are several Victorian State Squad members, starting with 19/U State Team reserve Kiara Boyd (WD/C) who has re-signed for her third VNL season. An exciting dual athlete, Boyd was selected in both the 2025 17/U State Team for netball, and the 2025 Marsh AFL National Futures for Aussie Rules.
Boyd will again link up with midcourter Sadie Cheeseman (C/WD/WA), who was named in the Ballarat Football Netball League Team of the Year in 2025.
Re-signed Dasha Taylor (WA/C) will provide additional midcourt cover in addition to playing in the club’s Reserves side, alongside newcomer Millie Scott, who made the 2025 19/U State Squad (Top 50).
18-year-old Holly McCarthy (C/WA) from Wangaratta has been elevated from Warriors’ Reserves team after being named the team’s Best and Fairest in 2025 and making the 19/U State Squad (Top 25). “Holly is a powerful midcourter who is super fit and will add strength throughout the midcourt,” said Bailey. “She is full of netball smarts.”
Taylah Easton joins Warriors from the Northern Territory following a huge 2025 playing state at the National Netball Championships, for Territory Storm in the Super Netball Reserves, and making the 2025 Australian 19/U Squad. “A rugged and strong midcourter, Taylah’s versatility can see her swing into the defensive circle if necessary,” said Bailey.
The team has no shortage of shooting talent, starting with Haleina Tanoi (GK/GS), who is a reserve player for the 17/U 2026 State Team as she transitions back to court from an ACL injury. “Although very young, her height and physical presence were missed, so we welcome her back,” said Bailey.
Both Tanoi and Eva Ryan can play at both ends of the court as required. Ryan continues to impress in the state and national pathways, having made the 17/U Australia Squad in 2024, and 19/U State Squad (Top 25) in 2025. She plays locally for Warrnambool in the Hampden Football Netball League, where Ryan took out the league’s MVP title in 2025.
Another versatile goaler is Charlize Bellette (GA/GS) who has joined Warriors from Geelong Cougars. Bellette was named in the Riddell District Football Netball League’s 2025 Team of the Year and was one of the youngest players in the Melbourne Mavericks’ inaugural 2025 Super Netball Reserves team. She is also a reserve athlete in the 2026 19/U State Team. “Charlize has also been working on her defensive skills and can be an alternate in the defence end if needed,” said Bailey.
Accurate long range shooter Ella Closter (GS/GA) is back for her third season in the team after shooting 519 goals at 83% last season.
Leona Hristovska (GA/GS) has also been re-signed for her dynamic style of play. She shot 152 goals at 82% in the last VNL season.
Ebony Porter will offer additional goaling cover this season in addition to playing in Warriors’ Reserves side.
Heading up the defence end is Albury’s Grace Hay, who won the team’s 2025 Best and Fairest player in her first season at the club. It was a breakout year for Hay, who also tied for the Ovens and Murray League’s Best and Fairest award (Toni Wilson Medal) alongside local netball legend and tied winner of the 2024 VNL Championship Most Valuable Player award, Sophie Hanrahan.
Shaid Sasalu has been re-signed for her third season at Warriors after representing Fiji at the 2025 Netball World Youth Cup.
Charlize Cooke and Millie Sharp will offer further defensive cover while also playing in the side’s Reserves team.
Coaches
Kim Bailey continues as Western Warriors Championship head coach with over three decades of coaching experience. She also coaches many Western Warriors athletes at Sunbury Lions playing in the Ballarat Football Netball League.
Bailey will be assisted in 2026 by new Championship assistant coach Stacey ‘Mina’ Lamb. “She has stepped up from the VNL reserve coaching position where she had a positive impact on the group and showed her ability to build team unity and saw great improvement from the group,” said Bailey.
Mina is a successful coach in the Ovens and Murray League where she coaches Wangaratta Rovers. She has also been a coach in the Netball Victoria North East Talent Academy for several years. “Mina has an exceptional netball IQ and will add a more strategic element to the Champ coaching bench,” said Bailey.
The 23&Under team coaching panel is unchanged, with both Tracy Howard (head coach) and Kim Borger (assistant) returning.
Rebecca Anstey has been signed as an apprentice coach.
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