Emma’s living the dream
Torquay teen to play netball for Australia
TORQUAY teenager Emma Walters had one goal at the start of the year: making the Australian netball team.
Last week, after winning the Pan Pacific games title with Victoria, Walters, 15, realised her dream.
She was a key to the under-15 Victorian side going through the preliminary matches undefeated and played a vital role in helping her team to a 10-goal win over NSW in the final.
The star centre left such an impression at the Adelaide tournament that selectors of the national side had no choice but to name her in the Australian team that will play at next year’s world championships, which Walters said would fulfil her wishes to represent her country.
“My aim for this year was to make the Australian team,” Walters said.
“It was a huge dream and I didn’t think it would be real, but I was lucky enough to get picked and I was very happy.
“We’ll now go off to the world championships in May and play against teams like New Zealand, Fiji and South Africa.”
The Pan Pacific games capped off a remarkable year for Walters, who won the under-17s GFL league best and fairest (despite being eligible to play in under-15s) and the St Mary’s B-grade best and fairest, as well as finding time to coach her own junior side.
This week she was also named in the under-17 Vic- torian side to play at next year’s national championships, and while she will have her hands full with state duties and other representative netball, the Sacred Heart student says her aim for next year is to play A-grade for St Mary’s.
“I want to play under-17s with all my friends but also play in A-grade and be in the top competition and at the highest standard in Geelong,” Walters said.
“There is a huge, huge difference (between B-grade and under-17s). It took a while to get used to the bigger bodies and the physicality but the team gets around you and sticks up for you, so you get used to it.
“It’s a good challenge, the games are a lot faster.”
St Mary’s coach Bruce Waldron said although Walters would have no trouble joining A-grade ranks, the club would take a broader approach to ensure her wellbeing was the No.1 priority during what looms as a massive 2018.