Firebirds rookie ready to go

By Matt Fotia 

“I’m itching to play on Grace Nweke.” 

The infectious attitude of the Queensland Firebirds’ newest signing, defender Ash Barnett, comes across so well in those seven words. 

At the age of just 22, Barnett has already confronted plenty of challenges on her path to the world of professional netball, backing herself and her ability at every turn. 

She’s not arrogant, she’s confident.  

She’s not naive, she’s eager. 

And most importantly, she’s determined.  

Barnett has been all in on her netball for some time now.  

She cleared all the traditional netball pathway checkpoints through her junior career, representing the Frankston and District Netball Association and the Victorian State 15 and Under and 17 and Under sides, before working her way into the VNL system, all before finishing high school. 

So when she announced her decision to move to Queensland at the age of just 18, most people assumed it must have been motivated by something off the court. 

“I moved for netball,” Barnett stated. 

“The first time I moved to Queensland was in 2021 when I first left high school.  

“I moved to the Sunshine Coast, to play with the (USC) Thunder and to try and work my way into a training partner spot.” 

Barnett spent the 2021 season around the Lightning, representing the Thunder in the Queensland Sapphire Series and the Australian Netball Championships, before swallowing her pride and returning home to Melbourne. 

But it wasn’t long before she was drawn north once more. 

“I wasn’t completely ready to be out of home,” Barnett said. 

“I wanted to be back home, saving money, with my friends and family and really figure out if netball is something I want to do. 

“After a year back in Melbourne, the call came again from Queensland.” 

The person on the other end of the phone was Jessica Whitfort. 

Whitfort had seen Barnett’s talent firsthand during her time with Netball Victoria and was a member of staff during her year with the Sunshine Coast Thunder. 

In 2023 she was announced as Head Coach of the Firebirds Futures (then Queensland Sapphires) and convinced Barnett there were opportunities for someone of her ability in Brisbane. 

“Jess told me there was real interest in me in Queensland, but I just needed to prove myself in their programs, their roots,” Barnett explained. 

“I came back up in 2023 and I haven’t looked back.” 

After two seasons of consistent performances with both the Brisbane North Cougars and the Firebirds Futures (Barnett was co-captain and MVP in 2024), the combative defender was confident she would be rewarded with a Training Partner spot for the 2025 season. 

It made logical sense.  

Instead, she was offered the final Firebirds contract for 2025. 

“It was a complete shock to me,” Barnett said. 

“I’d never had a training partnership, and my heart was set on signing on as training partner in 2025, it was the obvious next step. 

“The call came through on a random Thursday that the Firebirds wanted to contract me.  

“I was so shocked.” 

Famously, ‘all that glitters is not gold.’  

Sometimes we can dedicate so much of ourselves towards achieving a goal, or reaching a destination, only for it to underdeliver, or fail to live up to our expectations.  

It’s not the case for Barnett, who is now more than three months into her first pre-season as a professional netballer and is loving every minute, after more than half a decade trying to get her foot in the door. 

“It’s been everything and more,” Barnett stated. 

“We’re a very connected group. 

“Talking to the girls who have been here awhile or have been in the SSN system at other clubs, they’re saying this is the most connected they’ve ever felt in the professional environment.  

“The step up in intensity I was expecting, but I wasn’t expecting it to feel like a family so quickly.” 

It helps that Barnett has clicked with new coach Kiri Wills. 

“Kiri’s a bit of me, which is great,” Barnett explained. 

“She doesn’t like to sugarcoat things.  

“If I need direction, she is direct, but on the flipside, she is a very compassionate and caring person.” 

Compassion and care are important for any new member of the professional system, with athletes across all sports reporting struggles when sport transitions from being a hobby and an outlet, to their job. 

Barnett, who is studying Primary Education at ACU part time as well as offering coaching services, is confident she is prepared to cope with the rollercoaster of professional sport. 

“I have always been netball focused. It’s always been my goal and I’ve always been ready to drop anything for netball,” Barnett said. 

“I’ve got a good work-life balance though. 

“I have a lot of support within the netball environment, but I’ve grown up with the ability to step away from ‘work’. 

“As much as we all love each other and all want to talk to each other all the time, I have the ability to disconnect from netball and focus on Uni, or another part of my life.” 

Barnett feels prepared for the battles she’ll face on court as well.  

She describes herself as a ‘very hungry, clean, physical defender’ and credits the introduction of the Super Netball Reserves competition for her feeling of assuredness ahead of the 2025 season. 

“The SN Reserves fixtures we had last year were great preparation (for the step up),” Barnett explained. 

“I got the opportunity to play against contracted players like Lucy Austin, so to feel her out before I even had a contract was a real confidence booster for me. 

“It (SN Reserves) helps bridge the gap between SSN and the Premier League(s).  

“When it wasn’t there, I felt like there was a big divide between levels and professionalism.” 

Competitions like the SN Reserves and other fixtures have also allowed Barnett to come into the Firebirds program with semi-established on court connections with fellow circle defenders Ruby Bakewell-Doran and Isabelle Shearer. 

“Isabelle and I have played a fair bit with each other with SN Reserves, Academy and pre-season games, so I’m feeling very good if I was to come out the front (with Isabelle in GK),” Barnett said. 

“I’ve played a couple of games with Ruby (Bakewell-Doran) as well in pre-season last year where I was out the back, and she was out the front (in GD). 

“I’m feeling confident, but I’m also really excited to just sit and learn from the girls who have been there before me and learn what they want from me as well.” 

So, after a lengthy apprenticeship, in two states, Ash Barnett is just two and half months away from her first ever SSN campaign. 

Is she ready? 

“Yeah. 100%.”