By Sophie Taylor
2024 was a year to remember for many.
But for Origin Australian Diamond #193 Georgie Horjus, it was well and truly one for the books.
Suncorp Super Netball premiership.
Suncorp Super Netball Player of the Year.
Origin Diamonds debut.
But for the down to earth Horjus? She’s just grateful to play the sport her five-year-old self dreamed of doing.
“I always wanted to play netball as soon as I could,” Horjus said.
“Being from the country, sport is a big part of your life. Ever since I was five I’ve loved it so much.”
That love has driven Horjus to achieve everything she has set her mind to.
“The netball court is my happy place,” Horjus said.
Horjus had a busy year on the court.“There aren’t many players that get this opportunity.
“The trainings are really hard work, but that's what makes us better and you wouldn't be here if you didn't work hard.”
A “country girl” at heart, Horjus knew from a young age that she would need to move from her home of Kangaroo Island (KI) to chase her netball dreams.
“KI’s quite isolated,” she explained.
“When I wanted to really pursue my netball I had to travel to Adelaide every weekend for weeks and weeks.
“I had to do that from when I was 12 to about 16.
“I definitely had to move from KI to push my own goals.”
The move to Adelaide was a sink or swim moment for the reserved, hardworking 16-year-old Horjus.
“Coming from a little school with 100 or so kids to Adelaide where I had 200 in my year level, that was a really big challenge for me,” Horjus admitted.
“I'm not the most out-there person, so coming into that school was really challenging and I had to make new friends, put myself out there.
“Those two years were a big challenge, but also made me a lot stronger as a person.”
From there, things moved quickly for the quiet achiever.
Named as an Adelaide Thunderbirds training partner ahead of the 2020 season, no one could have predicted what would happen next.
But while COVID was a challenge, it was an opportunity for a fresh-faced, 18-year-old Horjus to make her mark on the SSN for the first time.
“Teams could have more players because we were in the hub, so I was really lucky and COVID probably helped me debut because I was picked in the 12,” Horjus said.
Even in her first year, Horjus’ skills and mindset were beyond her years, and earned her an official contract the following year.
The rest, as they say, is history.
Horjus' childhood dream came true in October.Up until recently, the Thunderbirds’ back-to-back premierships was her fondest netball memory, tied with her call-up to the Diamonds squad for the first time.
It is safe to say another core memory has been added to that list this year.
“It’s a surreal feeling,” Horjus said following her Diamonds debut in October.
“I had to sit back and take it all in, because in the moment it goes so quick.
“It’s the best feeling. Knowing that I've wanted to do this since I was a little girl makes me very happy.”
Her Diamonds debut did not come easy, sitting out of all three test matches against England and biding her time on the sidelines during the first two Constellation Cup matches.
“To get to play in front of a home crowd in Adelaide would have been really special, but I think I learnt a lot in the England series not being picked,” Horjus said.
“I’ve learnt a lot that will hopefully really help me in the coming years with the Diamonds, so I'm really grateful that I got the opportunity now and I know I'll take a lot of learnings from that.
“No one wants to not be picked in the 12, so it definitely made me even hungrier and I think it was extra special when I got picked for the Constellation Cup.”
Horjus was informed of her selection straight from Stacey Marinkovich herself, admitting that in the moment she didn’t expect to be selected in the team.
“Stacey called me into her room, which I was really nervous for, because normally that means you probably haven't been selected,” Horjus said.
“It was amazing, I wasn't expecting it at all.”
Horjus had her dress presented to her by former Diamond Steph Fretwell.A debut on Australian soil made the moment even sweeter, despite Horjus’ family unable to make the journey.
“Singing the anthem was pretty special, I got a little bit emotional,” Horjus said.
“Being at the stadium in Perth, normally the crowds don’t support you in your SSN team, so to have the crowd behind me was awesome.
“When Stacey called me to be on the court, I can't even remember what she said, I was so nervous going out there.
“I think it was just ‘play your game and don't overthink it too much’. But honestly, I was so in the zone and focused, I can't really remember much.”
Horjus is positive about her future with the Diamonds, despite recent results not going their way.
“When I think over the last couple of weeks being with the Diamonds group, it's just about taking every opportunity you can,” Horjus said.
“Everyone wants to win games, so it was disappointing that we didn't win the first three games (of the Constellation Cup).
“The last game we just wanted to go out there and play good netball and be proud when we came off the court and I think we did that really well.
“You can't always be your best all the time.
“We didn't want to lose, but it was good for learning, and we took a lot from those games.”
And as they say, ‘Diamonds are made under pressure’.
“We should feel the pressure, we’re the number one team in the world,” Horjus said.
“But we want to stay there. We'll do all we can to make sure we come out next year and we're firing.”
