Baby Diamonds: Meet Ash Ervin

By Linda Pearce 

Long before Ash Ervin became a baby Diamond, the adopted Queenslander bore something of a resemblance to a baby giraffe. 

“There’s a photo of me in Little Athletics and I’m 12 or something and all of these people are up to my hip,’’ said the 192cm Sunshine Coast Lightning defender. 

“I’ve always been super tall, and my parents always knew I was going to be super tall, just because of how giant I was at that age.

And I just kept going and going and I was like ‘please stop!’.  

“But I’m very grateful for it now.’’ 

It was challenging at the time though, for someone who struggled with insecurity, while towering uncomfortably over every girl in her class and most of the boys as well. 

“Growing up and being six foot, I was just like: ‘Why the hell?’,” Ervin said with a laugh.  

“I had moments of just feeling very different and weird but I also understood that being tall is not the worst thing in the world.  

"I’ve definitely come to terms with that…mostly. 

“I’m a very insular person and I’m always thinking, and probably overthinking things, and sometimes socially that kind of affected me growing up. 

“But I learned to be myself and that’s helped me so much in just making friends and enjoying my time in teams, that sort of thing. So that’s a little bit of what I experienced growing up, but when you learn to overcome it, your life just gets so much better.’’ 

Ervin’s life right now? Just fine, thanks.  

Part of the Constellation Cup touring party as freshly-capped Diamond No.197 against South Africa in Adelaide, the youngest member of the national squad is one of six aged 24-and-under. 

Thrilled to have been presented with her precious yellow dress by former Australian captain Liz Ellis, or The Liz Ellis, as Ervin described the Netball Australia chair, Ervin played the second half and finished with four deflections, four rebounds and one intercept.  

Tick. 

“Oh my gosh, it was so crazy. I still can’t believe it happened,’’ she said, having not just shed a tear during Ellis’ locker-room speech but choked up singing the national anthem while thinking of how proud her sports-mad late grandfather would have been. 

“That’s what really got to me. It’s just such a privilege. But also stepping out on the court for the first time was so exciting too, and it was awesome to do it with Lucy (Austin) and Hannah (Mundy) there as well.'' 

Yet the Sydney-born Queensland pathway product and former state 19/U captain considers herself as slightly more similar to understated Georgie Horjus, for example, than fellow debutantes Mundy and Austin. 

“Lucy and Hannah, they are the funniest people,’’ Ervin said.  

“I did Fast5 with Lucy and just thought she was the funniest person ever. She’s just so authentic in any environment she steps into.  

"Me and Georgie are definitely two of the quieter ones. But you can tell when we get comfortable. We can definitely be a bit louder or weird or whatever.  

“It is a bit daunting sometimes. Everyone is a bit older than you and so experienced, and they’re people you’ve looked up to since you were kids so we’re on the shy side but we’re coming out of our shell as well.’’ 

Aware of the many big personalities within the sport and the broader benefits that come with improved fan engagement, Ervin wondered if netballers might need a little more encouragement to put themselves “out there”, publicly. 

Personally, she enjoys doing interviews far more than social media, declaring herself unlikely to get “TikTok famous” any time soon. 

“I’ll leave the Instagram and all that to others who are better at it,’’ Ervin said.  

“And you do get so many who do really love it, and that’s so fine. Everyone in netball’s so different, and you’re allowed to be which I really enjoy as well.’’ 

Emotional by nature, plus curious, calm and laid-back (her words), Ervin described herself as a type B personality in an environment filled with type As. 

She was animated though, when discussing the prospect of netball breaking into the Olympic movement for the 2032 Brisbane Games, with a hitherto-unfulfilled dream for so many building towards its now-or-never moment for inclusion. 

“Netball’s definitely growing on the world stage and I just hope people recognise netball and encourage it to go into the Olympics,’’ Ervin said.  

“I would be about 29, and that’s right near your peak, so that’s a bit cool. 

“And the girls that wouldn’t be able to play at the Olympics but are still pushing for it, I think that’s what netball is: you do things for the next generation and always put that effort in, no matter if you’re involved or not. I’m like ‘please guys, please get us into the Olympics’. Imagine.’’ 

More immediately, one of Australia’s brightest defensive prospects, who will next year complete her Arts degree, majoring in history, is daring to dream that perhaps the future might come as soon as next year’s Commonwealth Games and a home Netball World Cup in Sydney in 2027. 

Yet Ervin also knows that having just taken her first few baby steps internationally, involvement in either pinnacle event so soon would be a bonus, with non-selection meaning only that she will “keep trying for the next one’’. 

While continuing to grow. Just, now, in a different way.