Australian Netball Championships 2023: Top performers 

By Sophie Taylor

With the 2023 Australian Netball Championships done and dusted, it’s time to take a look at some of the best performing up and coming talent making a name for themselves among the best pathway athletes in the country. 

ESTABLISHED PLAYERS 

Sophie Fawns 

Fawns is known for her long-range accuracy in the Suncorp Super Netball, and that was no different at the ANCs. With great sweeping movement and confidence to shoot from anywhere, Fawns became the centrepiece of the Swifts Academy’s attacking forays during finals, and was a consistent threat throughout the competition alongside Swifts training partner, Ali Miller.  

Teigan O’Shannassy 

Also playing within the Swifts Academy program, O’Shannassy combined with Swifts training partner Dakota Thomas to be a prominent threat in the Swifts’ defensive circle. With great pressure over the shot and excellent evasive movement to confuse space, O’Shannassy proved a tough defender to come up against. 

Lucy Austin 

Austin was an impressive target throughout the Suncorp Super Netball season, and the ANCs event was no different with the goal shooter finding her way to the post consistently and without difficulty. Her capability to shoot from range proved useful on a number of occasions, while her timing on the hold was hard to stop. 

Amy Sligar  

Sligar was a constant threat for the GIANTS, using her turn of speed to slice through the midcourt and apply some impressive defensive pressure. While Sligar did not get a heap of court time through the 2023 Suncorp Super Netball season, she proved exactly why she is capable of playing at that level with her excellent endurance and consistency throughout the week. 

Ash Ervin  

Known for her long reach and strength, Ervin was a shining light in the Sunshine Coast Lightning Bolts’ defensive end during the ANCs. Her ability to block vision proved pivotal on more than one occasion. Also boasting great elevation and footwork, Ervin’s ability to position herself for the rebound was a real strength while her cleanliness kept her away from the whistle.  

21/U SQUAD MEMBERS 

Jessie Grenvold 

Grenvold was a key part of the Adelaide Thunderbirds Futures’ defensive unit and became one of the most influential defenders across the competition with her versatility, one-on-one pressure and anticipation of the ball. With a quick change of direction and evasiveness to fly for the intercept at any given moment, Grenvold is an exciting young defender to watch out for. 

Zali Anderson 

While not initially a starter for the Collingwood Magpies, wing attack Anderson became a key figure in the side’s eventual ANC title. Boasting a great change of speed and ability to hit circle edge, Anderson was unphased by anything thrown at her, from physicality to shut-down defence, and put her game smarts to good use to find space. 

Millie Roach 

Roach was a formidable option in the GIANTS attack, with great movement allowing her to have plenty of impact in the goal circle, despite the tough defenders she came across. A tall goal shooter with great timing and accuracy, Roach was a consistent threat and made things tough for her opposition. Roach’s strength was also a key part of her game, able to play through physicality. 

Audrey Little 

A clean and composed midcourter, Little was a key player in the Swifts Academy’s midcourt and used her dynamic movement to be a threatening player out in centre. Little’s seamless transition between attack and defence made her a tough competitor, with deliberate and evasive movement allowing her to apply constant pressure in all areas of the court. 

Emily Andrew 

The Victorian Fury goal shooter was one of the top performers of the ANCs, named overall competition MVP after a phenomenally consistent week. Andrew’s strong hold and quick change of direction paid dividends, while her accuracy under all kinds of pressure kept defenders on their toes. Andrew’s deceptive movement was also a key part of her game, able to outwit her opposition to keep the Fury ticking along. 

Liz Dronfield 

A staple in the Fever Futures defence, Dronfield was a real headache for opposition attackers with her timing on the intercept and willingness to contest both inside and outside the circle. Great footwork and workrate allowed her to body up on her opposition and cause mayhem to the feeders, while also providing great reach and elevation over the shot.