The Australian 17/U squad has been officially announced with a number of young aspiring Victorian netballers included in the future crop of Australia’s netball talent.
Goaler, Olivia Wilkinson from Chelsea Football Netball Club is one of those players.
It has been a heavily interrupted two years due to state lockdowns in Victoria and the cancellation of sport, but that has not stopped Wilkinson from grinding away with the honour of potentially wearing green and gold.
“It's still insane to even be recognised at such a high level of netball. It just still blows my mind now thinking about it,” said Wilkinson.
“To me, it is just such an honour to be a part of that squad.”
Following in the footsteps of her mother, six-year-old Wilkinson began her netball career in NetSetGO before becoming more actively involved in the netball community.
With a silver medal under her belt from the Under 15 School Sport Victoria team, Wilkinson was on the hunt for a new challenge. This time her eye was on the prize a little bit closer to home in terms of the Victorian Netball League (VNL).
“I was still really young at the time, and I was hoping for a development spot in a VNL club. In 2020, I was picked in the Peninsula Waves 19 & Under team. I was so excited to get the season underway but obviously with COVID that didn't go ahead but regardless, I had the best preseason ever.”
Although the pandemic hindered Wilkinson’s ability to get out on court in season 2020, it did not stop her from making a name for herself this season with the Peninsula Waves. Wilkinson highlighted the level of professionalism in the league for some of her individual success.
“The whole VNL program, especially at my club, is just insane. I think it really gives young athletes a really good insight into elite netball because we have strength and conditioning programs, we have consistent training...And obviously when you actually get to play in there, VNL is super professional. The way everything is run is so professional, and I think it really helps athletes in the Netball Victoria pathway because I think it really does mimic just a smaller version of Suncorp Super Netball.”
Modelling her game off the likes of Australian Diamonds goaler, Cara Koenen, Wilkinson uses her agility, height and athleticism to be an imposing threat under the post.
“In recent times, I've really looked up to Cara because her game style is just incredible to watch. Her persona and the way that she handles herself… I think she's just an incredible athlete and I look up to her,” she said.
“I love running and being super active on the courts. I just love that she's a moving shooter, and I definitely take heaps of tips and tricks from her.”
Wilkinson’s love for the game only continued to grow from her first experience, with the goaler living and breathing netball. But outside of the game Wilkinson is just as busy splitting her time between school commitments and socialising.
“For me it's just sticking to a routine. I wake up the same time every morning, get some study done if I can and then go to school.”
“Every spare minute that I have at school I will try and get my homework done because it is a tight schedule,” she explained.
“I love hanging out with my friends. I'm obsessed with the beach. I'm super lucky to live in very close proximity to the beach so I can just walk down there. I love hanging out with my pets walking my dog down the beach as well.”
Wilkinson is one of six Victorian athletes named in the Australian squad.
More info on the Netball Victoria pathway can be found here (https://vic.netball.com.au/netball-victoria-pathway)
