Once considered a sport for the “softer” sex, netball has grown up – and toughened up.
As the Netball World Cup gets underway in Sydney, The Weekly’s Bryce Corbett meets the gladiators about to step into the arena for Australia.
Sharni Layton
Meet Sharni Layton, 27
Hometown: Bonbeach, Melbourne
Current Club: NSW Swifts
Position: Goalkeeper
There’s a saying in the Australian netball team locker room. It’s “Sharni arms” – the whole team talks about how crazy good they are and how crazy hard you have to work to get them.
The Melbourne native is the poster girl for a new breed of netball – a tougher game, in which the physical clashes on court are harder than they’ve ever been.
“It’s become much more physical on the court,” says Sharni.
“Players are fitter, stronger and faster than they have ever been. If that means a biff off the court, so be it.”
Kim Green
Meet Kim Green, 29
Hometown: Miranda, Sydney
Current Club: NSW Swifts
Position: Centre and Wing Attack
Talent-scouted by the NSW Swifts at 16 and with eight years of playing for Australia, Kim will be the calm on-court presence for the Diamonds in this World Cup.
To keep in shape, Kim does 11 sessions a week at the gym, as well as deep-water running once a week.
Paige Hadley
Meet Paige Hadley, 22
Hometown: Penrith, Sydney
Current Club: NSW Swifts
Position: Centre and Wing Attack
Don’t be fooled by the butter-wouldn’t-melt exterior. When Paige takes to the netball court, she takes no prisoners.
“The harder the hits, the better the game,” she says.
“It’s better to watch and better to play.”
Caitlin Thwaites
Meet Caitlin Thwaites, 28
Hometown: Bendigo, Victoria
Current Club: NSW Swifts
Position: Goal Shooter
In the blink of an eye, Caitlin has to go from all-out attack mode to focused-to-shoot mode. And, more than any other player on the team, if the goal shooter is having a bad day, everyone notices.
The 188cm Bendigo native honed her craft as a little girl.
“Dad rigged up a hoop on a wobbly metal post, held in place by tent pegs,” she says.
“I got good at shooting a moving target.”
For the full interview but The Australian Women’s Weekly on sale now.
