Tasmania's top 14: Rising netball talents set to represent at Nationals
The Tasmania Wild team to contest the Super Netball Reserves finals weekend later this year have been confirmed.
Fourteen of the state's best players have been selected to contest the tournament which will see all state based and Super Netball affiliated teams compete in June.
The Wild Capital Darters (ACT), and Territory Storm (NT) will compete in a play-in tournament before the competition to determine the seeding.
This year is the first time the Wild will return to the court since 2013.
The team will be led by highly skilled and respected head coach, Jon Fletcher who brings decades of experience in high-performance environments across Australia to the role.
'It's fantastic for Tassie netball that the Wild is returning to national level competition as it provides another opportunity and direction for all our aspiring players,' Fletcher said.
'We have selected an exciting mix of players from around the state, and it will be great to now get together over the next four weeks for a short but highly focused preparation and see what we can achieve.'
Mackenzie Greaves, one of the youngest members in the team, expressed her excitement about the opportunity ahead.
'As one of the younger members, I am privileged to learn from my older and more experienced teammates, taking in all their leadership and knowledge. I hope that as I continue with my netball journey, I can then be an experienced and supportive teammate like them,' Greaves said.
As part of their preparations, the Wild will take on the Tasmanian men's team, the Titans, in an exhibition match on Sunday, May 18.
Team staff: Jon Fletcher (head coach), Lynda Colgrave (assistant coach), Ann Pearce (team manager), Nick Cannell (physio). 14-PLAYER SQUAD
Amber Brown
Age: 15
Club: North West/South East Suns
Position: GS/GA
Playing achievements: U15 State School Championship 2024, U17 National Championships 2025, U17 Australian Squad
Fun fact: I love boiled eggs.
Grace Close
Age: 22
Club: North West/Northern Hawks
Position: GS/GA
Playing achievements: 2021 U19's State Team, 2021 TNL U19's Championship, 2021 TNL U19's Grand Final MVP, 2024 AMMNA Mixed Reserve Silver Medalist
Fun fact: Began playing netball with Bournville Netball Club in England.
Sophie Sherriff
Age: 16
Club: North/Hiit Launceston Northern Hawks
Position: GA/GS
Playing achievements: 15U State Team and Tasmanian MVP 2023, 19U Best First Year Player TNL 2024, 19U TNL All Star Team 2024, 17U State Team 2025, National Netball Championships Joint Tournament MVP 2025, Aus Squad 2025
Fun fact: I started playing netball when I was four years old.
Sophie Blackberry
Age: 19
Club: North/F45 Cavaliers
Position: GA/GS
Playing achievements: Tas U17 2022, 2023, TAS U19 2024, 2025, Wild Academy 2023-2025
Fun fact: I write with my left hand but shoot and pass right handed.
Sophie Brewer
Age: 17
Club: North/F45 Cavaliers
Position: GA/WA
Playing achievements: State teams in 15/U 2022, 17/U in 2023 & 24, 19/U 2025, 17/U Tas MVP & AUS Squad 2024, 2 x 19/U Premiership winners in 2023 & 24 with Cavs, TNL 19/U hotshot award 2023, 19/U Grand Final MVP 2024, Black Swans ANC and Pacific Games 2024 & 25
Fun fact: When I started netball I played as goal defence.
Abbey Geappen
Age: 18
Club: South/Cripps Waratah
Position: WA/C
Playing achievements: 15s 2022 State team, U17s 2023 State team, Vice captain, U19s 2024 State team, U19s 2025 State team, Vice captain, U19 TNL MVP, First Nations team 2024
Fun fact: I have a twin brother.
Mackenzie Graves
Age: 16
Club: South/Kingston Blues
Position: C/WA
Playing achievements: U15/U17 State Teams, TNL Under 19's and Opens
Fun fact: I am ambidextrous so I can play multiple sports (and most importantly netball) with both my left and right hand … oh and I'm a twin.
Hannah Lenthall
Age: 22
Club: Queensland/Cavaliers (Past Tasmanian Club)
Position: C/WA
Playing achievements: ANC 2022, Tasmania Wild 2023, 2019 Tasmania 17&U State Team, 2020 Tasmania 19&U State Team, 2021 Tasmania 19&U State Team
Chloe Litherland
Age: 27
Club: Queensland/Kingston Blues
Position: C/WD
Playing achievements: Firebirds Futures ANC 2023, Sunshine Coast Lightning ANC 2020-2022, QLD U19s/17s/16s
Fun fact: I have a golden retriever called Benji.
Isabella Sherriff
Age: 16
Club: North/Hiit Launceston Northern Hawks
Position: C/WD
Playing achievements: 17 & under state team 2024-2025, 17 & under Aus squad 2024-2025, 19 & under TNL runner up B&F 2024, 19 & under TNL All Star Team 2024
Fun fact: I can play the guitar
Milana Harnett
Age: 17
Club: North West/Devon
Position: WD/GD
Playing achievements: Devon U/19 team (Vice-Captain), state U/17 team 2024/2025, 19/U all star team 2024, Wild Academy
Fun fact: I went to school in Fiji for a few days.
Gemma Collyer
Age: 21
Club: North-West/Devon
Position: GD/WD
Playing Achievements: 2021 U19 Premiership team, 2022 U19 League Best and Fairest, 2022 and 2023 NNC U19s TAS MVP
Fun Fact: I was born in Melbourne and started at Eltham Netball Club, and I was a shooter until 15-16 years old.
Paige O'Neill
Age: 17
Club: North/F45 Cavaliers
Position: GD/GK
Playing achievements: U/17 Aus Squad 2022, 2023, U/19 Aus Squad 2024, TNL MVP runners up 2024, State U15-U19's, 2025 Aus Pathway Squad
Fun fact: I can't cook.
Grace Ebbelaar
Age: 16
Club: North/F45 Cavaliers
Position: GK/GD
Playing achievements: 2024 U19 TNL premiers with Cavaliers, 2024 17&U State Team, 2024 Part of Wild Academy, 2024 Netball Tas 19U All Star, 2025 TNL opens player for Cavaliers, 2025 17&U state team & captain
Fun fact: I used to ride horses competitively in show jumping and eventing. TRAINING PARTNERS
Courtney Brown
Age: 15
Club: North West/South East Suns
Position: C/WD
Playing achievements: Under 15s state team captain 2024, 15 years of age making U19s state team, Debut in TNL opens in first TNL game, participated in three different sport state teams.
Lily Case
Age: 18
Club: North/F45 Cavaliers
Position: GK/GD
Playing achievements: 2022 & 2023 HIIT Launceston Northern Hawks U19s, 2024 & 2025 F45 Cavaliers Opens, U17 State Training Partner 2023, U17 State Team 2024, U19 State Team 2025
Fun fact: I have been playing netball since I was 5-years-old.
Aimee Bean
Age: 17
Club: South/South East Suns
Position: GS/GA
Playing achievements: State team Training partner U15 2022, State team 2023 and 2024, State League U19 2023 and 2024 Karana, State League 2025 Open Suns, State team U19 2025, Rep Team Blue and Gold for STNA since U11, Wild Academy 2024
Fun fact: I enjoy camping.
Molly Green
Age: 18
Club: North/Northern Hawks
Position: GK/GD
Playing achievements: 2022 - 15U State Team Vice Captain, 2023 17U State Team, 2024 17U State Team Vice Captain, 2025 19U Training Partner
Fun fact: I was born on Friday the 13th. The number 13 is unlucky for some but not for me.
Olivia Bender
Age: 16
Club: North/Northern Hawks
Position: C/WA
Playing achievements: U15 state 2023, U17 state 2024, TNL All Star Team, U17 state 2025.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


7NEWS
3 days ago
- 7NEWS
Former cricket star Tim Paine ‘embarrassed' by Tasmania as fears for new AFL team grow
Former Australia cricket captain Tim Paine has lashed Tasmania as 'self-sabotaging', admitting he's embarrassed by the political upheaval that threatens to kill off the island's planned AFL team. The Tasmania Devils are at risk of extinction before they have even played a game, after Liberal Premier Jeremy Rockliff on Thursday lost a no-confidence motion. It means Tasmanians are set to return to the polls, likely delaying construction of a new stadium at Macquarie Point in Hobart. The proposed 23,000-seat roofed venue, which is now slated to cost $945 million, is a condition of the Devils entering the AFL in 2028. Devils chief executive Brendon Gale and chairman Grant O'Brien fear an early election would delay the stadium project and put the club's licence at serious risk. The saga has prompted an emotional response from Devils staff, politicians and public figures this week. 'It is staggering that we do this to ourselves, we are self-sabotaging state,' Paine said on SEN radio. 'I'm as proud as anyone to be a Tasmanian but at times it is embarrassing. 'I was with (Brisbane Lions coach) Chris Fagan the last few days at the football club, everyone you speak to, they ask if it's gonna happen. 'Even Fages, a proud Tasmanian, you could see in his face and the look in his eye, he was shocked that once again we have gone out of our way to stuff something up that would be great for our state. 'It's a doomsday scenario, but what if the AFL revokes the licence?' The former Test wicketkeeper felt Tasmania would continue to be the butt of jokes if it can't deliver an AFL team. 'Tassie has for a long time been the laughing stock for the other states because of our inability to get stuff done,' Paine said. 'When I was playing cricket people would say, 'Oh you're heading back to 'Slowbart', nothing ever happens'. 'It's the same as it was 10 years ago, and we keep proving people right. 'It's embarrassing when you're involved in national or international sports and businesses and you go to carnivals or Tests and people just continually shit-can us. 'They talk down to us and we continually prove them right.'


West Australian
3 days ago
- West Australian
Tasmania's AFL saga ‘embarrassing' for our state: Former Australian cricket captain Tim Paine
Former Australia cricket captain Tim Paine has lashed Tasmania as 'self-sabotaging', admitting he's embarrassed by the political upheaval that threatens to kill off the island's planned AFL team. The Tasmania Devils are at risk of extinction before they have even played a game, after Liberal Premier Jeremy Rockliff on Thursday lost a no-confidence motion. It means Tasmanians are set to return to the polls, likely delaying construction of a new stadium at Macquarie Point in Hobart. The proposed 23,000-seat roofed venue, which is now slated to cost $945 million, is a condition of the Devils entering the AFL in 2028. Devils chief executive Brendon Gale and chairman Grant O'Brien fear an early election would delay the stadium project and put the club's licence at serious risk. The saga has prompted an emotional response from Devils staff, politicians and public figures this week. 'It is staggering that we do this to ourselves, we are self-sabotaging state,' Paine said on SEN radio. 'I'm as proud as anyone to be a Tasmanian but at times it is embarrassing. 'I was with (Brisbane Lions coach) Chris Fagan the last few days at the football club, everyone you speak to, they ask if it's gonna happen. 'Even Fages, a proud Tasmanian, you could see in his face and the look in his eye, he was shocked that once again we have gone out of our way to stuff something up that would be great for our state. 'It's a doomsday scenario, but what if the AFL revokes the licence?' The former Test wicketkeeper felt Tasmania would continue to be the butt of jokes if it can't deliver an AFL team. 'Tassie has for a long time been the laughing stock for the other states because of our inability to get stuff done,' Paine said. 'When I was playing cricket people would say, 'Oh you're heading back to 'Slowbart', nothing ever happens'. 'It's the same as it was 10 years ago, and we keep proving people right. 'It's embarrassing when you're involved in national or international sports and businesses and you go to carnivals or Tests and people just continually shit-can us. 'They talk down to us and we continually prove them right.'


West Australian
3 days ago
- West Australian
The Snitch: What losing Tasmania as 19th AFL club could mean for Fremantle Dockers
The Snitch is a proud 'yes' man. I only ever vote yes in referendums despite our country's historical lean to a no. It's just my positive nature. Ask Mrs Snitch. I always find it hard to say 'no' to anything my dear lady requests, whether it was the peculiar mix of Penfolds Grange and Devils on Horseback at our wedding reception at El Caballo Blanco, or her insistence we ride to the chapel in a racing green Dymaxion replica. So I have been flummoxed with with all of this pushback from Tasmanians on having an AFL team. It's all so negative and small-town minded. The thought of missing out on a stadium, and therefore a team, because of political squabbling and local myopia, has brought Tasmanian's finest footy players to tears this week. Why wouldn't you want an AFL team in your State? Yes, Tassie's greatest tourism asset lies in its diverse landscape and rich history, from Cradle Mountain to Port Arthur, but this would surely ramp it up a notch. If I am honest, only one good thing will come from a team not landing in Van Diemen's Land and that would be the likelihood Alex Pearce would remain at Fremantle for the duration of his career. Alex has Palawa heritage and grew up in Ulverstone on Tassie's north coast. He'll be 31 by Tasmania's intended AFL debut in 2028, but would be just the type of experienced and balanced footballer and all-round good chap the Devils would be looking for to lead their inaugural team. The transformation of the ugly Macquarie Point Sewage Treatment Plant into a boutique stadium worth a few Tassie truffles short of $1 billion has poured new salt on to old north v south wounds in the State. On Thursday, Tasmania's Liberal Party Premier Jeremy Rockliff lost a vote of no confidence over a looming $1 billion budget deficit and will now call a snap election. The deficit and now the election mean the AFL team is in doubt given the league has made the new roofed stadium a condition of a 19th licence. Media giant Eddie McGuire summed it up best when he said: 'What Tasmania doesn't need is every week to have an advertisement that they are a second-rate state. I think Tasmania deserves to be finally seen for the great state that it is.' He's right. If they want to remain blissfully second rate, then we have to let them. It's their call. They are busy subversives Tasmanians, just like West Aussies, after all. Remember, Tassie is an actual island. We are like one given our distance from the east. Which brings me to my favourite Tassie story and a perfect segue out of this misery. Back in 1982, the Commonwealth Games opened in Brisbane to great fanfare. Matilda the giant kangaroo was the centrepiece as she circled the QEII Stadium, winked and opened her pouch to enable hundreds of kids to pour out and form a human map of Australia. The Snitch was one of those kids – with my aptly named best mate Cliff – positioned to form the Nullarbor Plain. It was all going splendidly until we realised there was a gaping error. We'd left Tasmania off the human map. I recall talking to the one kid who was solely responsible for that role. He mumbled something about eating too many apples and sprinted to the nearest toilet and, you guessed it, missed the cut when we boarded Matilda. The outrage was loud from Tasmanians. It was another slap in the face from the mainland. Realising the gravity of his absence when he emerged from the lav to find we had all left without him, 'Tassie' leapt the fence in a futile effort to address the geographical gaffe, but sadly, we'd already broken away. A bit like Tassie right now. Say no to the AFL and you deserve to be permanently cut adrift, leaving you to float south where you will somewhat ironically bump into Macquarie Island before clattering into the frozen pole of Antarctica.