Caris joins Vixens

Former Horsham Saints netballer and current AFLW Melbourne Demons player Maggie Caris has joined a Melbourne Vixens netball squad after her selection in an Australian under-19s team.

Caris, 19, has officially signed on as a Melbourne Vixens squad member and training partner for the 2022 season.

Caris made her debut for Melbourne AFLW side earlier this year after her selection with pick 17 in a 2020 draft.

She was selected for the 2021-22 Australian Under 19s netball squad.

Caris said she felt both sports played ‘hand-inhand’ and her journey from Horsham Saints to Victorian Netball League ‘shaped her approach and understanding of elite sport’.

“I’ve played netball for a long time, so I feel that helped me in the high-performance areas to transition across to football as well,” she said.

Caris said to be named as a Vixens training partner was an honour.

“It’s still crazy to sort of think about, to be named among them. I’m really proud of it. It’s going to be lots of hard work, I’m very honoured,” she said.

“I would love to play for Australia one day, but I feel like that is every little girl’s dream.

“Everyone sees them on TV and says, ‘wow they’re just such amazing athletes’. To be in the pathway, it’s a really special thing to be a part of. I feel like it kind of shows you that there is a way to get there.

“I think I’m just going to be working away at what I can do and what things I can control to make myself the best player and person possible.”

Netball Victoria’s Vixens performance and pathways general manager Rebekah Webster said she was ‘excited about what is to come’ for Caris, who joins returning squad member Gabby Coffey for the 2022 season.