Tasmanian Netballer, Charlotte Walker, has been signed to the Adelaide Thunderbirds as a training partner for the 2025 season. Charlotte is only the second Tasmanian to be named as a training partner with an SSN team. It is an incredible opportunity for this North West Coast local to join the reigning premiership team.
Charlotte Walker started her journey in the Burnie Netball Association's Netta program in 2012 and never looked back. She loves the constant challenge netball provides; “I love how much the game changes the higher up you go, even the jump from Netta to netball when you’re young. It’s such a new challenge and so rewarding when you can take the next step. I knew for sure when I went over to my first year of state league, I wanted to play at the highest level I could.”
As a young Tasmanian netballer, Charlotte is excited to show aspiring players that even though they are from Tasmania, they can achieve their dreams of playing in the Suncorp Super Netball league too; “Obviously coming from such a small part of Tassie it always seems like a dream that’s never going to be a reality. So when I got the call up I was so shocked that I’d even been considered. I’m very proud to be one of very few Tasmanians to ever be an SSN training partner.”
Charlotte will head to Adelaide before the end of 2024 to get stuck into training in early 2025.
Adelaide Thunderbirds GM of High Performance, Jace Bode is excited to continue to develop the relationship with Netball Tasmania, “There’s endless opportunities, we know that some really good young talent is coming through so we’re certainly keen to explore how that transpires over the next 12 months, and we know that having Charlotte is hopefully the start of something promising for both Netball Tasmania and Netball South Australia.”
Netball Tasmania have worked hard to build the relationship between Tasmania and the Adelaide Thunderbirds throughout 2024.
Mitch Coulson, CEO of Netball Tasmania, hopes this will open the pathway for other young netballers across the state. “We certainly feel as though we are capable of producing fantastic athletes. In future, this may open the door to a few more athletes and to the Thunderbirds looking more closely at Tasmanian talent.”
Netball Tasmania would like to thank the ongoing support from the Tasmania Government, in particular the support from Minister of Sport and Events, Nic Street. Minister Street continues to be a champion for netball in Tasmania. "To see a young North-Wester like Charlotte making such a significant step on her netball journey is exciting and we're 100 per cent behind her. She's an inspiration and proof that dedication and training in a sporting passion can lead to exciting new challenges.”
Netball Tasmania would also like to thank the Tasmanian Institute of Sport for supporting Charlotte throughout her journey so far.
Image - David Bellamy/ The Advocate
