There is an old saying that goes something like, “the harder you work, the luckier you become.”
For rising netball star Charlotte Morey, that is exactly the case.
The chance to try out for the Victorian under-17 team as a bottom ager in 2020, Morey realised what the future might hold
“I had never been selected to trial before,” she said. “I was nervous and excited at the same time.
“I was cut in the second round which put me in the top 60 players, but a long way from where I wanted to be. I used it as my driver.”
“I probably hadn’t used my netball time during COVID to the best of my ability. I wasn’t going to make the same mistake again.”
Morey followed in her mother’s footsteps by signing up for netball’s “Net, Set Go” when she was six-years-old.
She then played at Altona Netball Association as a junior, but found the competition wasn’t as competitive as she would have liked and joined South Barwon in the Geelong Football Netball League from the under-15’s.
As well as her weekly matches, she has represented the Elmer region at the state titles.
She again tried out for the Victorian under-17 for a second straight year.
This time she made the final team.
“I was very excited,” she said. “My mindset was simple, do everything the coaches ask, leave nothing on the court because it could be my last state team.”
Morey’s national championships was a strong one and resulted in her being picked in the Australian under-17 squad.
She is currently training one night a week at the State Netball Centre in Parkville and looking forward to the five-day camp at the AIS in Canberra later in the year.
That’s on top of a typical week for the Maribyrnong Sports Academy student.
A normal week includes training in Geelong with her local team South Barwon and games Geelong Cougars in the Victorian Netball League.
On Saturday it’s games with South Barwon.
“Netball is a body strength game, particularly in the middle where you must use your body to gain an advantage,” she said.
“I play in the middle as a wing attack, centre or goal attack. You can add five weekly strength and conditioning sessions to my on-court training sessions so I can compete against other very strong players.”
Morey’s favourite player is Aussie Diamond, Liz Watson
So what does the future hold for Morey?
“I’ve always barracked for the Vixens in the SunCorp Super Netball League, I’d love to play for them… or any club really,” she said with laughter.
“A chance to play for the Diamonds would be absolutely amazing.”
Morey is the monthly nominee for the Don Deeble Sports award.
The Don Deeble Sports Star Award is sponsored by the Yarraville Club Cricket Club, Strathmore Community Bank, the Deer Park Club, Ascot Vale Sports and Trophies and The Star Weekly Newspapers.
If you would like to nominate a monthly winner or attend a dinner at the Medway Golf Club, contact swrsportsclub@gmail.com or 0408 556 631.
