Queenslander ready to step up

By Stephanie Smarrelli

Nineteen-year-old Brook Lacey was shocked to learn she'd been named in the Queensland state team for the National Netball Championships. 

So much so that she almost missed the announcement entirely. 

The team was being announced an hour after the Queensland State Titles’ last game and having not made the team before Lacey assumed there was no need for her to stick around to find out. 

“It was a really big shock to be selected because this was my last year to qualify for the team," she said. 

''I wasn't really thinking about the Queensland squad. I wanted to leave after my last game because I was like ‘well, I'm not going to get picked, so I might as well go home’ and I was tired. 

“I heard my name, then all I can remember is my manager shaking me so hard, she was more excited than I was.” 

Lacey found herself on the radar of selectors in her first season of Queensland's Ruby Series (the competition that develops athletes for Queensland's state-league the HART Sapphire Series) although she's in her third year in the Brisbane South Wildcats program. 

It was her mum who first suggested Lacey put herself forward to join the Wildcats. 

“Mum saw information about the Wildcats under 16s state titles team trials and I didn't really understand what it was because I wasn't in any of the top teams at my club, but I went to it,” she said. 

“Seeing all the top girls from my club there, I didn't know what I'd gotten myself into and it really scared me but I ended up getting into the team over some of those girls. That grew my confidence a lot.”  

Lacey cherishes the friendships she's made in the Wildcats program and is enjoying getting to know her state team teammates.  

“It's a really good environment for learning experience wise. I've learned a lot of new things and have met new friends,” she said. 

A proud Ewamian woman, Lacey is excited to represent her culture at the National Championships. 

“It means a lot to represent my culture and to go represent Queensland and my mob back home,” she said. 

Lacey went on to speak about the importance of First Nations visibility in the Suncorp Super Netball League. 

“Having First Nations athletes in the SSN shows there are opportunities for us and selectors are looking beyond cultural background,” she said. 

Growing up Lacey was heavily involved in athletics, which she believes has helped her to build her skills on the netball court. 

“I first started off as a as a center because I was a long-distance runner, so everyone would put me in centre but now I play in defence,” she said. 

The 19-year-old confessed the skills she developed competing in high jump events has helped her to develop into a strong defender.  

And while she's continuing to hone her skills on court, off it, she's studying to be a nurse. 

"I enjoy the quick thinking of nursing, it comes across into netball as well, being able to think quickly to make a decision,” she said. 

She hopes her quick-thinking will come in handy as she competes in Melbourne at the National Netball Championships against athletes she's never met before. 

“I've never done it so I'm looking forward to competing with the girls and playing against all the different teams,” she said. 

The one aspect she's not looking forward to though is Melbourne's weather. 

“I'm not looking forward to the cold in Victoria but I'm glad it's not in Queensland so I can experience travelling with a team,” she said.  

Watch all National Netball Championships matches live and on demand on KommunityTV.